Native Identities and Gender Rights: Navajo LGBT Rights Activism

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Native Identities and Gender Rights Navajo
LGBT Rights Activism
Sherrick Scott Roanhorse

• Civil Rights Symposium
• University of New Mexico
• Albuquerque, New Mexico
• September 27, 2007

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Dine Bikeyah Navajo Nation

• About 300,000 enrolled members strong
• Land covers New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah
• Rural, beautiful, and infrastructure challenged

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Battle with Spaniards, Mexicans, and
AmericansBosque RedondoTreaty of
1868Livestock Reduction of 1934Boarding
School EraCreation of Navajo Nation Government
Who we are Our past shapes us, our culture
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Navajo Way of Life

• Siah Naaghaii adoo Bikeh Hozho
• System of duality male and female
• To live a long life toward happiness
• Culture of adaptation and survival
• Adapted to cultural and environmental conditions
• Family structure
• Elders highly respected
• Parents share roles equally
• Familial relations
• Family bases status of person based on hard work,
  respect for others, humbleness, and generosity
• Family respects person for their contributions

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Navajo Gender System

• 5 Gender System (Thomas)
• Partners of Masculine and Feminine nature are
  considered appropriate
• Roles not based on sexuality or biological
  assignment
• Role of modern Navajo LGBT person up for debate

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Instance of Hate Crime

• 2001 - Murder of transgender Navajo youth in
  Cortez, Colorado
• Fred Martinez Foundation created to thwart
  discrimination and hate crimes

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Dine Marriage Act of 2005

• Outlawed same-sex marriages and unions on Navajo
  Nation
• Discriminatory toward LGBT peoples
• Works against principles of Dine Fundamental Law

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Past Events

• Utilized Log Cabin Republicans of New Mexico to
  push e-mail drive for veto
• President Shirley vetos DMA
• Met with friends
• Creation of Dine Coalition for Cultural
  Preservation

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Activism

• April - May 2005 Campaign against DMA
• The act outlaws same-sex marriage and makes LGBT
  Navajos equal to couples who marry within same
  clan
• The law is discriminatory toward Navajo LGBT
  individuals
• DMA is not the right way to go
• Shuns Navajo LGBT people
• Discriminates
• Another instance of Navajos embracing outside
  values

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The Fight

• Creation of online petition
• Creation of website
• Daily conference calls and e-mails
• Media releases
• Held press conference
• Gave interviews to reporters
• Urged delegates to vote Nay for veto override

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DMA Stands

• Dine Marriage Act passed veto override
• Law stands
• No person or group has petitioned DMA as
  discriminatory in Navajo court