Indigenous 2SLGBTQ+ Find Empowerment in Culture, Tradition, and Community

Throughout June, cities and communities across the country honored the LGBTQ+ community with Pride celebrations. Large cities like New York and Los Angeles often host the most notable events. However, for many Indigenous 2SLGBTQ+ people, Pride started long before the Stonewall Uprising of 1969.

Before colonization threatened Indigenous culture, many communities viewed 2SLGBTQ+ individuals as pillars of their society. The Navajo, for instance, historically recognized more than two genders. The Nádleehi is considered a third gender, embodying both male and female characteristics. These individuals played key roles within their communities, often serving as mediators and holders of sacred ceremonial knowledge.

Diné trans advocate Mattee Jim, originally from Tse’na’oshi’jiin on the Navajo Nation, has been advocating for over 25 years. Jim supervises HIV Prevention Programs at First Nations Community HealthSource in Albuquerque. She notes a shift in her perception of Pride as she embraced her Indigenous identity. “I’m of my people first and foremost,” Jim said.

The Navajo Nation celebrated Pride with vibrant rainbow colors lining the streets to the Window Rock Tribal Park and Veterans Memorial. Alray Nelson, Navajo Nation Pride Executive Director, highlights the deeper cultural meaning of their celebrations. “It’s more than a rainbow flag; it’s a reminder in Diné culture that human beings are sacred,” Nelson explained. Nearly 2,000 people gathered in Window Rock for the event.

San Carlos Apache Drag Performer Leslie D. Lewinsky joined the Navajo Nation Pride organization after struggling to initiate similar events in their home community. “I want to be the inspiration that you can live on the rez and be who you are,” Lewinsky said. They emphasized the importance of such events for offering hope and representation to younger generations.

Navajo Nation Pride has grown significantly, despite the lack of anti-discrimination laws on tribal lands. The Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission recommended enacting protective laws, but previous attempts to overturn prohibitive acts like the Diné Marriage Act have failed. “Our progress is built on the foundation laid by previous generations,” Nelson asserted.

Jim also remembers a time when the 2SLGBTQ+ community faced harsh discrimination. “We beam with pride in so many different ways,” she said, celebrating the evolution from underground gatherings to openly celebrated events protected by Navajo Nation Police.

Other tribes are also creating their own Pride events. Nelson advises that these events must closely involve the community. Hualapai Pride Organizer Vonda Beecher launched their organization to provide much-needed support within her community. “Our kids need to feel safe and not be afraid of who they are,” Beecher emphasized.

The Tohono O’odham Nation hosted its fourth annual Pride celebration in Sells, coordinated by Indivisible Tohono. Angel Manuel, a transgender Tohono O’odham woman, expressed gratitude for local support, noting the importance of such events for showing younger generations that they belong.

Tribes like the Zuni Publeo, Southern Ute, and Cherokee Nation have also embarked on hosting their Pride events. While progress is being made, with only five out of 22 tribes in Arizona recognizing or celebrating Pride, much work remains. Nelson hopes more Indigenous 2SLGBTQ+ individuals reclaim their spaces, asserting, “We have every right to be here like everyone else.”