The translation of sexuality has proven to be challenging throughout the times due to the dominant mores at the time of translation. Framed within Critical Translation Studies, this article examines cases of heterosexist manipulation in the Spanish translation of “The Happy Prince” by Oscar Wilde. It proposes that Wilde’s specific intent in using the fairy tale genre is not transmitted in any Spanish version of the story, from its first translation in 1900 to date (2018). We show that the translations manipulate both grammatical gender and sexuality in such a way that one of the messages of the story, the value of homosexual love, is omitted entirely to become the standard and conventional view of sexuality that dominates contemporary Western tradition. The article indicates the linguistic, stylistic and cultural choices that should be considered for a new translation of the story.

Translation as a cultural process can be used in various ways to suppress or promote ideologies. Within the framework of Critical Studies in Translation, this article examines the presence of the phenomenon of manipulation; that is, deliberate alteration of central topics and messages for ideological purposes, in the Spanish translation of the story The Happy Prince by Oscar Wilde. It proposes that Wilde’s specific intent in using the fairy tale genre to battle heterosexism (the belief that heterosexuality is the only norm) is not transmitted in any of the Spanish versions of the story, since its English publication in 1888 to the twenty-first century.<p> The analysis proves that all twelve translations of the story found, included the famous translation by Jorge Luis Borges in 1910, manipulate the sex and sexuality of the characters by taking advantage of the commonly perceived ambiguities between the grammatical and cultural gender in Spanish. This is done in such a way that one of the messages of the story, the redemption of homosexual love and its acceptance by God, is omitted entirely to become, and promote, the standard and conventional view of sexuality that dominates contemporary Western tradition. The article finishes by pointing out the linguistic choices that need to be considered for a new translation of the story and provides the translation of a passage as an example.<p>