Our Story
WE ARE A GROUP OF COMMUNITY ACTIVIST, EDUCATORS, ARTIST, AND MEMBERS OF INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES WHO ARE TWO SPIRIT, INDIGIQUEER & LGBTQPAI INDIVIDUALS
In December of 2017, in what started off as a casual conversation about the lack of visibility and celebration of the Two Spirit identities, two work colleagues, Gabby Leon (Yaqui), and Terri Jay (Navajo & Zuni) discussed the possibility of having a festival that celebrated and honored Native American LBGTQ roles and traditions.
Terri who was very engaged in the Native American community asked her friends and colleagues if they would be interested in having a discussion about the possibility of a small festival celebrating Native American LGBTQ history and traditions. Through the many meetings the newly formed group had, it was agreed upon that LGBTQ Native Americans have had relatively more visibility and celebration in the recent years with the increased visibility of Two Spirit in social, academic, and event professional fields. In addition, the focus of many movements in the past years prior to the meetings have expanded beyond Native North and South America, including many voices of the Pacific Islands, Asia, Australia, Africa, and even into rural communities of Europe. The focus of these movements have been and continued to be about Indigenous culture, history, colonization, decolonization, and indiginizing. It was through a consensus that the Indigenous peoples of the world shared many similarities in terms of colonization, missionization, and the main topic of the loss and marginalization of third, fourth, fifth, and various sacred genders in the respective societies. Ultimately, the group agreed that their proposed cultural event would honor, and acknowledge all Indigenous peoples' plight, especially those who are Two Spirit and/or identified with the contemporary labels and terms of cisgender and transgender lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, queer, asexual, and intersex. It was then decided that the event would be a pride event unlike no other. The conversation lead to the creation of Indigenous Pride LA.
Founding Members
Gabriela Leon
Gabriela Leon
Gabriela Leon
Yoeme (Yaqui)
She, Her
Gabriela Leon, Yaqui/Yoeme, born in Sonora Mexico. Identifies as a Two Spirit person. Gabriela has worked in the field of HIV/AIDS for over 20 years. Committed to ensuring that the Indigenous voice is not lost and that indigenous communities from Latin America are always represented and accounted for. Gabriela is curr
Yoeme (Yaqui)
She, Her
Gabriela Leon, Yaqui/Yoeme, born in Sonora Mexico. Identifies as a Two Spirit person. Gabriela has worked in the field of HIV/AIDS for over 20 years. Committed to ensuring that the Indigenous voice is not lost and that indigenous communities from Latin America are always represented and accounted for. Gabriela is currently the Associate Director at APAIT, a division of SSG a non-profit organization in Los Angeles, CA.
Terri Jay
Gabriela Leon
Gabriela Leon
Diné (Navajo) & Zuni
She, Her
Terri Jay, Navajo / Zuni of the Navajo Reservation and residency of Los Angeles. Co-Founding Member of Indigenous Pride LA 2018. 19 years professionally working in Non-Profit environment. Urban Rez Casting member. Newly Co-Chair of DMH’s UsCC-LGBTQI 2 Spirit Subcommittee.
Yuè Begay
Gabriela Leon
Ezak Perez
Diné (Navajo)
She, Her
Yá’át’ééh shik’is dóó shik’é dóó shidine’é.
Yuè Begay yinishyé. Naakai Dine’é nishłį́. Kinyaa’áanii bááshishchíín. Dibéłzhiní da’shicheii. Tábąąhá da’shinálí. Ákót’éego t’áá diné asdzáán nishłį́. Ákót’éego t’áá nádleehí nishłį́ ’ałdó’. Kinłání Dookʼoʼoosłííd Biyaagidi shiʼdizhchį́. K'ad Indigenous Pride LA biCo-Chair
Diné (Navajo)
She, Her
Yá’át’ééh shik’is dóó shik’é dóó shidine’é.
Yuè Begay yinishyé. Naakai Dine’é nishłį́. Kinyaa’áanii bááshishchíín. Dibéłzhiní da’shicheii. Tábąąhá da’shinálí. Ákót’éego t’áá diné asdzáán nishłį́. Ákót’éego t’áá nádleehí nishłį́ ’ałdó’. Kinłání Dookʼoʼoosłííd Biyaagidi shiʼdizhchį́. K'ad Indigenous Pride LA biCo-Chair nishłį́. Freelance Graphic Artist dóó Consultant nishłį́ ’ałdó’. Public Healthígíí bá naashnish. California State University State, Long Beachdę́ę́’ niniłtááh. K’ad Tovaangardi kééhasht’į́ ndi Tódí Néesh Zhee’dę́ę́’ naashá.
"Hello my friends, family, and my people.
My name is Yuè Begay. I am of the Nomadic People Clan, born for the Towering House Clan. My maternal grandfather is of the Black Sheep Clan and my paternal grandfather is of the Near the Water’s Edge Clan. This is how I identify as a Navajo transgender woman. I was born in Flagstaff, AZ. I am a Co-Chair of Indigenous Pride LA. I work as a Freelance Graphic Artist as well as a Consultant. I work in the Public Health field. I graduated from California State University, Long Beach. I currently live in Los Angeles, CA but am originally from Kayenta, AZ. (Navajo Nation)"
Ezak Perez
Gabriel Estrada
Ezak Perez
Hopi & P'aéaekilâ Pueblo
He, Him & They, Them
Ezak Amaviska Perez was born and raised in and around Tongva~Los Angeles, CA. They identify as trans and two spirit of center. He is of Hopi & P'aéaekilâ Puebloan people, as well as Latinx. Ezak is the Executive Director of Gender Justice LA (GJLA) - a grassroots social justice organization l
Hopi & P'aéaekilâ Pueblo
He, Him & They, Them
Ezak Amaviska Perez was born and raised in and around Tongva~Los Angeles, CA. They identify as trans and two spirit of center. He is of Hopi & P'aéaekilâ Puebloan people, as well as Latinx. Ezak is the Executive Director of Gender Justice LA (GJLA) - a grassroots social justice organization led by black, indigenous, non-binary, two-spirit, trans people of color in LA. Ezak has been holding circles, organizing, training and facilitating locally in LA as well as nationally for the past 15 years. They have been honored by the Sons & Brothers Portrait Series for Native American heritage month. He is currently helping one of the co-coordinators of Indigenous Pride LA.
Gabriel Estrada
Gabriel Estrada
Gabriel Estrada
Xicanx, Chihene, Rarámuri, & Caxcan
Yehuat, i- & Ze, Zir
Professor Gabriel S. Estrada teaches Indigenous, LGBTQ, and Comparative Religion at California State University Long Beach. They are an HIV+ community board member of the Red Circle Project/APLA Health and secretary/co-Founder of City of Angels Two-Spirit Society (CATSS). Through mat
Xicanx, Chihene, Rarámuri, & Caxcan
Yehuat, i- & Ze, Zir
Professor Gabriel S. Estrada teaches Indigenous, LGBTQ, and Comparative Religion at California State University Long Beach. They are an HIV+ community board member of the Red Circle Project/APLA Health and secretary/co-Founder of City of Angels Two-Spirit Society (CATSS). Through matrilineage, Dr. Estrada is Xicanx, Chihene, and Rarámuri; their patrilineal line is Xicanx and Caxcan.
Hudson Tibbetts
Gabriel Estrada
Gabriel Estrada
Aniyunwiya (Eastern Cherokee) & Nanticoke
He, Him
Osiyo nagada,
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Tsanusdi Hudson Tibbetts is American of British, Eastern Cherokee Band, and Nanticoke descent. The Creator has blessed with health, sustenance, friendships, love, and as I enter elder status, I hope with wisdom as well. As a preteen, I developed
Aniyunwiya (Eastern Cherokee) & Nanticoke
He, Him
Osiyo nagada,
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Tsanusdi Hudson Tibbetts is American of British, Eastern Cherokee Band, and Nanticoke descent. The Creator has blessed with health, sustenance, friendships, love, and as I enter elder status, I hope with wisdom as well. As a preteen, I developed the consciousness that I was born what we call today “a gay man”. I have survived a good deal of adversity and thank the Creator for granting me resilience and strength of spirit. In adulthood, my connections with my ancestors grew. I strived to learn as much as possible about our indigenous ways, and was introduced to the Two-Spirit tradition. For myself, there is more serenity and holiness in the traditional indigenous ways, and I feel a greater sense of purpose and connection to the people and the world.
Wado Unetlanuhi
Johnathon Talamantes
Johnathon Talamantes
Johnathon Talamantes
Akimel O'odham (Pima)
He, Him
Johnathon Paul Talamantes – Akimel O’odham (Pima) enrolled at Gila river Indian Reservation in Arizona. I identify as a Two Spirit person. More specifically I identify as Wikovat, the traditional term for a Two Spirit person in O’odham culture. Born and raised in South Central Los Angeles. Blessed to be close e
Akimel O'odham (Pima)
He, Him
Johnathon Paul Talamantes – Akimel O’odham (Pima) enrolled at Gila river Indian Reservation in Arizona. I identify as a Two Spirit person. More specifically I identify as Wikovat, the traditional term for a Two Spirit person in O’odham culture. Born and raised in South Central Los Angeles. Blessed to be close enough to my traditional homeland to be able to experience life on the reservation and as an Urban Indian. I have always been very active in the local Native community. Started going to the American Indian clubhouse as a youth and also went to Central High school both at United American Indian Involvement. Started attending The Red Circle Projects Two Spirit support groups when I was 18 years old. That’s where I met my mentor Elton Naswood. It is also where I first learned what the term Two Spirit meant. The support I received from The Red Circle helped me discover more about my identity as a Two Spirit Person and led me to initiate some positive behavioral changes in my life. I came on full time at The Red Circe Project in November 2017 as an outreach worker. It has been my greatest pleasure to work in, with, and for my community. In June 2018 I had a traditional coming out ceremony at The Red Circle Projects Pow Wow. This would have been done by the Wikovat person around the time of puberty. I was blessed to have an elder approach me about doing the ceremony. They wanted to show the community that this is something that’s always been done. Two Spirit people have always been here and there is even ceremony for us.
Statement of Support for Black Lives Matter
Dear Reader and Relative
Indigenous Pride LA stands in solidarity with Black Lives Matter. Indigenous Pride LA had always stood in solidarity with Black Lives Matter. Indigenous Pride LA will always stand in solidarity with Black Lives Matter. We condemn the killing of George Floyd and all the Black relatives who were murdered. We also are in support of the protests and rebellions that are happening not only here in the United States, but the protests and uprisings across the world. As Two Spirit, Indigiqueer, and Indigenous LGBTQPAI+ communities, we understand and empathize with the killing of anyone by the settler colonial, military, and police state.
As Two Spirit, Indigiqueer, and Indigenous LGBTQPAI people, revolting and rebelling against the colonial settler state is part of our legacy. To the violent European colonization of the Caribbean, of Central America, to the broken Thanksgiving promises and betrayals, to the Pueblo revolts and the resistance of U.S. westward expansion, to the Indian Removal Acts, to now with the American Indian Movement and Wounded Knee, to Standing Rock, to Oak Flats, to Mauna Kea, to the Amazon, to Wet'suwet'en, and to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.
As the Two Spirit, Indigiqueer, and Indigenous LGBTQPAI community, we also understand that the modern LGBTQ movement was sparked from a series of protests and revolts. From Compton’s Cafeteria to Stonewall, uprising and rebelling against the violent colonial police state was the foundation and stepping stone of our rights today.
We also believe that the murderers committing these killings of Black lives must all be brought to justice. Too often, these murders are protected by the settler colonial state and thus, breeds unaccountability; not only on the police, but also to the settler colonial injustice system. Along with legal accountability, we demand policy reforms that limit police interventions, require diverse community oversight of peace-keeping practices, and prioritize mental health and social justice alternatives over police violence and imprisonment.
We also honor the unharmed Black lives lost to senseless police violence.
George Floyd
Tony McDade
Breonna Taylor
Ahmaud Arbrey
Michael Brown
Tamir Rice
Oscar Grant
Eric Garner
Philando Castile
Samuel Dubose
Sandra Bland
Walter Scott
Terrance Crutcher
And many more Black lives that were lost and taken inhumanely.
Lastly, as Indigenous Pride LA is Los Angeles’ only Pride event that honors, celebrates, and recognizes Two Spirit, Indigiqueer, and Indigenous LGBTQPAI identities, we also know and see that our community also encompasses Black lives and experiences as many of our members are of Black heritage. It is this reason and many more that Indigenous Pride LA stands with, and will always stand with Black Lives Matter.
In prayer and in kinship from Tonvaangar and Tataviam homelands,
Gabriela Leon, Yeome (Yaqui) | Co-Chair
Yuè Begay, Diné (Navajo) | Co-Chair
Gabriel Estrada, Xicanx, Rarámuri, Chihene, & Caxcan | Secretary
Ezak Perez, Xicanx, Hopi & P'aéaekilâ Pueblo | Committee Member
Hudson Tibbetts, Aniyunwiya (Eastern Cherokee) & Nanticoke | Committee Member
