Queerness Between the Lines: A Translation and Analysis of Lesbianism in Malinda Lo’s Last Night at the Telegraph Club (2021)

Stories of lesbian women have traditionally been silenced through translations, which entails a general lack of adequate language dealing with their sexual identities. On this basis, this research proposal approaches the translation of lesbianism from English into Spanish focusing on the classification and analysis of terminology used in lesbian groups. This analysis also delves into the strategies adopted to either conceal or openly display homosexuality, thus opting for either preserving or disputing the taboo surrounding the LGBTQI+ community. The results reveal a higher percentage of euphemistic and distancing expressions that deem lesbianism a taboo. This, therefore, highlights an evident rejection of lesbian women, which reflects the attitude held towards them both in San Francisco during the 1950s and in Francoist Spain. On the other hand, great attention is provided to the deficit of accurate terminology in the TL when reproducing expressions typically used amongst the LGBTQI+ community, which may compromise the accurate reproduction of lesbian identity.