af+ personal essay

af+

The Happiest Place On Earth

“I was guilty and heartbroken and I wasn’t ready to let go of her: my first kiss, my first time, my first girlfriend, my first love, my first everything and…

Yvonne —

Jun 28, 2021

black lives matter

latinx

first person

Letting Go of Latinidad

This Latinx Heritage Month, I’m calling for non-Black Latinxs to reflect on the ways in which we’re aiding white supremacy and how we can instead be accomplices for the liberation…

Yvonne —

Oct 7, 2020

the outsiders issue

issues

What the Border Wall Destroys

A border wall further fragments and disrupts nature, the land, and the people who are intricately woven into the Rio Grande Valley’s natural ecosystem. With increased militarization on the border,…

Yvonne —

Jun 26, 2019

interview

tanya saracho

tv feature

“Vida” Showrunner Tanya Saracho on Working in a Room Filled With Latinx Creators and Getting Queer Sex Right

“I was like Roberta, do your thighs hold both of you? Like if you slide down the wall? And she was like, let’s see. So we tried it on the…

Yvonne —

Jun 22, 2019

interview

latina

lgbt book reviews

Cherríe Moraga on Delving Into Her Queer Chicana Memories in “Native Country of the Heart”

Moraga’s latest, “Native Country of the Heart,” is a deep meditation on memory — reflections of the past, recalling hard moments, losing ourselves, and remembering who we are as Mexican-Americans,…

Yvonne —

May 1, 2019

"personality cult"

autostraddle behind the scenes

straddleverse

Hello, Goodbye: This Is Way Better Than a Lesbian Breakup Letter

After more than five years at Autostraddle, Yvonne is stepping down as senior editor. But before she goes, she wanted to take some time to reflect on her time here…

Yvonne —

Nov 6, 2018

2018 election

latina

politics + activism

Lupe Valdez Is a Gay Latina Running for Texas Governor; That’s Something at Least

The 71-year-old has prided herself on being a hard worker coming from a humble background and being a champion for the people. But her lackluster campaign and her not-so perfect…

Yvonne —

Nov 2, 2018

brazil

international news

politics + activism

What You Need to Know About Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil’s Homophobic Presidential Frontrunner

Here’s why Jair Bolsonaro is so dangerous to LGBTQ Brazilians, what’s been happening with the Brazilian presidential race the past few months and how Bolsonaro’s potential win could affect not…

Yvonne —

Oct 22, 2018

gay marriage

la boda jota

lesbian weddings

La Boda Jota #4: Loving Another Queer Latina Is A Radical Act

I choose her, always, because she’s my home and my light.

Yvonne —

Oct 10, 2018

Lists/Top 10s

food lists

Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Products, Ranked By Jack-o’-Lantern Emojis

“If I were Pac-Woman and these pumpkin rolls were the little dots in the maze I had to eat, I would win every time.”

Yvonne —

Oct 4, 2018

fatness

gay marriage

lesbian weddings

La Boda Jota #3: What’s a Fat Tomboy Femme to Wear on Her Wedding Day?

The first question people asked me when I got engaged was what I was going to wear to the wedding. My impulse reaction was to blurt out, “how the fuck…

Yvonne —

Sep 26, 2018

androgynous fashion

fatness

queer fashion

An Ode to Fat Tomboy Femmes: Effortlessly Cool Plus-Size Outfits

I’m still defining “tomboy femme” style for myself but it gets exponentially harder to find inspiration when all I see is fashion for white, thin bodies. I’m a fat tomboy femme…

Yvonne —

Sep 24, 2018