Sixto-Juan Zavala - Raspa Magazine

Photography by César Ramos

Raspa Magazine is a response to the paucity of queer Latinx literature readily available to readers. It is a queer literary magazine that focuses on the Latinx perspective. Raspa intends to showcase the experience of queer Latinx artists, thereby providing a better understanding for ourselves as peers and for those outside of our community. The Magazine was started in Austin, Texas by César Ramos in the fall of 2012. The design of the magazine is simple yet nuanced, avoiding expected stylistic stereotypes.

The identity is meant to reflect a new generation of writers and artists and create a platform for an often ignored or pigeonholed group. The inverted triangle logo references the raspa cone—a traditional Mexican treat of shaved ice and sweetened flavouring often served in a cone similar to a snow cone. The inverted triangle is also the reappropriated symbol for LGBTQ+ community initially intended as a badge of shame.