September 15 through October 15 is Latino/a/é Heritage Month — a time to honor and celebrate the diverse histories, cultures, languages, traditions, values, and contributions of people whose roots trace to Spain, Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. What began as Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968, amid the Civil Rights Movement, officially expanded to a full month in 1988.
Theme for 2025
The theme for 2025 is “Heritage Voices: Past, Present, Future.” This year, we center the stories of Latino/a/é individuals — everyday people and trailblazers alike — whose voices shape our shared past, make meaning in our present, and guide us into the future.
Why This Month Matters
At Fenway Health, we value inclusion, representation, and equity. We see Latino/a/é staff, clients, patients, volunteers, and supporters as integral to our mission. Their perspectives enrich our work: from delivering accessible LGBTQIA+ health care, to advancing research, to ensuring our services reach communities historically underserved.
Latino/a/é Heritage Month reminds us to reflect on where our community has come from, to celebrate what has been accomplished, and to recommit to building a future where every person is seen, heard, and supported.
Highlighted Voices & Contributions
Latino/a/é individuals have long been vital in shaping the arts, politics, science, culture, activism, and more. In 2025, we amplify voices such as:
- Sylvia Rivera – tireless trans activist and visionary, whose work at the intersections of LGBTQIA+ and Latino identity continues to inspire.
- Gloria Evangelina Anzaldúa – author, feminist theorist, and poet whose writings on borderlands, identity, and culture are foundational.
- Wilson Cruz – actor and HIV activist staring on Star Trek and My So Called Life and serving as a strong advocate for LGBTQIA+ youth of color living with HIV
- Dr. Amalia Mesa-Bains – artist, curator, and educator whose work foregrounds Chicanx and Latinx visual culture and diasporic traditions.
- Carmen María Machado – celebrated writer whose narratives explore memory, identity, queerness, and heritage.
We also honor the often unsung Latino/a/é heroes: community health workers, organizers, caregivers, arts collectives, small business owners, and elders preserving tradition and knowledge.
Ways to Celebrate & Engage
Here are concrete, thoughtful ways to observe this month — ways that uplift, educate, and connect:
- Read books by Latino/a/é authors: fiction, memoir, poetry, essays. Lean into both classic voices and emerging writers.
- Watch or stream films, documentaries, or theatrical productions created by or featuring Latino/a/é voices.
- Attend community events: local festivals, art shows, talks, or panels that center Latino/a/é culture, history, and identity.
- Support Latino/a/é-owned businesses in your neighborhood. Think beyond commerce — sharing, recommending, and amplifying.
- Visit museums or cultural centers that spotlight Latino/a/é history and arts; engage with exhibits that challenge and expand your understanding.
- Volunteer or get involved with organizations doing health justice work in Latinx communities: whether through clinics, outreach, mental health, or cultural programs.
Language, Identity & Inclusion
Language surrounding identity continues to evolve. At Fenway Health, we are committed to using language that affirms all people and listens to how they self-identify. Some terms to consider this year:
- Latino/a – traditional forms denoting gender.
- Latina – for people who identify as female.
- Latiné or Latiné / Latino/a/é – gender-neutral or inclusive alternatives acknowledging nonbinary, genderqueer, or gender non-conforming identities.
- Latinx — still used in many spaces, especially academic, activist, and youth-centered communities; its use is subject to preference.
- Hispanic — generally refers to people connected by the Spanish language; note this does not include all people of Latin American heritage (for example, Portuguese-speaking Brazilians).
We aim to honor individual preferences and the diversity of identity, expression, and culture within Latino/a/é communities.
Looking Ahead
As 2025 moves forward, Latino/a/é Heritage Month isn’t just a time of celebration — it’s an invitation to action. To build more equitable health care, creative spaces, communities and systems. To center the voices too often overlooked. To support change-makers and hold space for healing and growth.
To our full Fenway Health community, we wish a joyous, reflective, and inspiring Latino/a/é Heritage Month. May we all learn, connect, uplift, and carry the richness of heritage into every day.