Letter to the Navajo Times regarding LGBT article published on Nov. 24, 2005

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Friday, 02 December 2005 10:55

This is a "letter to the editor" of the Navajo Times, regarding the article published on November 24, 2005, titled "Modern-day nádleeh: Gay Navajos share their hopes and struggles." The author of the letter, Tomasina Grey, wanted to share her letter with NativeOUT.com readers.

Dear Editor,

First of all, I personally would like to commend the Navajo Times for providing a platform that has given a voice to the numerous Diné Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender community members. More importantly, for providing an opportunity to share our knowledge of the nádleeh’s traditional roles, which have been important to the formation of Navajo culture. These stories needed to be shared with all those who have not been fortunate enough to hear them, in them you will discover the true nature of how the Diné have continued to survive to this day. Ironically, we as Diné have culturally displaced this gender identity from our own tribal stories and history.

Ever since I was a child I have been always been taught to respect our culture, our language, our people, our ceremonies, and my role as a woman in our Navajo society just to name a few. Today our society has changed in so many ways; we have become extremely acculturated and assimilated into mainstream Western society that our cultural values, ethics and morals have been greatly overshadowed, if not completely altered. Though I have learned the ways of the “White Man” and have learned to walk their path; my heart and soul remains loyal to my Navajo roots. It is by means of ceremonies that I was able to attend college and achieve my educational goals. I return to Dinétah as often as I can for ceremonies and to renew my spiritual connection with the Earth and to maintain my cultural sense of place and belonging. In essence, we all return to Dinétah have our prayers heard by the Creator in our sacred space of the universe.

I am extremely disappointed that our elected tribal officials have forced their own personal agendas upon the Diné and have once again failed to recognize that We, (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender) people are citizens of this sovereign nation just as much as other Diné people are. Not only are we victims of physical violence, but now we have become victims of the Diné tribal government’s Prejudice, Discrimination, and Ignorance. Recently, this was officially established and recognized worldwide, through the Diné tribal government’s passage of the “prohibition of same-sex marriage with the Navajo Nation.” As Diné people, we now have become the oppressors of our own tribal people.

The article is not a battle in which we should determine who has the lead in the struggle and fight; not Urban or Reservation, not Men or Women, not young or old, and certainly not White, Black, Hispanic, Asian, or Indigenous. The bottom line is that we are all dealing with the same issues of Racism, Oppression, Discrimination, Prejudice, and above all, VIOLENCE as a result of IGNORANCE.

As much as we pride ourselves as citizens of this Great Navajo Nation and living in the country which prides itself as being the home of the braves--the United States, why is it that we continue to allow ignorance to breed violence on people who simply desire to live the American Dream just like everyone else? Our country continues to outcast those who do not fit into the obtainable perfect model often portrayed on television. We, as Diné, are now on the same road as our oppressors! PEOPLE TURN OFF YOUR TELEVISIONS and start thinking for yourself, rise up, take a stand, make a difference and fight for what is right, RESPECT FOR SELF, FOR OTHERS, AND RESPECT FOR OUR CULTURAL VALUES AND MORALS. Culturally, we morn for our displaced culture and our language, now is the time to a make difference. If not now, when will we do it? Until they are gone, when our grandchildren have to learn of their tribal Diné heritage from books? We need to take ownership of our culture, our language, our history and our past.

I urge everyone to teach tolerance of the differences that exist beyond the borders of the reservation. I make an urgent call to other GLBT community members and their allies to educate and organize. Please join this new listserv http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lgbt_dine so that we can begin to network with each other and support one another’s efforts. This listserv has been created by the wonderful folks at NativeOUT.com. Thank you to Jennifer Denetdale, Ph.D, Assistant Professor of History at the University of New Mexico and Wesley Thomas, Ph.D, Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Indiana University for their contribution to this editorial.

In Peace and Harmony,
Tomasina Grey

Last Updated on Monday, 09 February 2009 04:13

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