an electrical connector having a housing member has a latch pivotably secured to the housing . the latch has a latch arm defining a plane and a cam arm . the latch is pivotably actuable in the plane of the latch arm upon applying a force to the cam arm to rotate the latch from a latched first position to an unlatched second position . the force is applied by moving a boot axially along the connector housing through a limited distance from a forward position to a rearward position . upon removal of the force from the cam arm , the cam arm will return from the second position to the lower energy state of the first position due to the action of a spring . in returning to the first position , the cam arm returns the boot to a forward position .