DESCRIPTION
In honor of both Native American Heritage Month and Transgender Awareness Week in November, this program brings together a panel of Two-Spirit people for a conversation about the rich complexity of Two-Spirit identity. Panelists will explore the various ways that Two-Spirit people construct their identities through tribal affiliation and LGBTQ terminology, including under the transgender umbrella. They’ll also consider how queerness in indigenous communities has been historically defined and understood and how these traditions have been maintained or adapted in the present.
SPEAKERS
Sam Campbell (they/them) is a board member with Bay Area American Indian Two Spirits (BAAITS) where they serve as the drum keeper. As an indigenous scholar, they dedicate their time to advocating for indigenous rights and issues surrounding missing and murdered indigenous women and girls. And as a queer studies scholar, they continually fight for trans and Two-Spirit equity along with safety advocacy.
Faun Harjo (he/him) is a transmasculine/Two-Spirit artist who was born and raised in Oklahoma. Now residing in San Francisco, he performs amongst his peers and family.
J. Miko Thomas (moderator, she/her), better known as Landa Lakes, is Chickasaw and is on the board of Bay Area American Indian Two-Spirits (BAAITS) and the Council of Grand Dukes and Duchesses of San Francisco. She is a former board member of the GLBT Historical Society.
Amelia Vigil (they/she) is an urban-indigenous/Xicano, Two-Spirit poet, outdoor educator, and identical twin. Their indigenous heritage is Picuris Pueblo from her father and Purepecha from her mother. They are mixed Spanish/New Mexican. They have been involved with Bay Area American Indian Two-Spirits (BAAITS) since 2013, joined the board of directors in 2015, and were recently appointed interim executive director. Amelia has earned degrees from Feather River Community College and Mills College. They are a recent graduate from the Institute for American Indian Arts with an MFA in poetry.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
This event will take place online. After you register, you will receive a confirmation email with a link and instructions on how to join.
ADMISSION
Free | $5 suggested donation
Register online here: https://bit.ly/3iCYMtQ
ASL INTERPRETATION
ASL interpretation provided upon request. Please write at least three days in advance of event to leigh@glbthistory.org.
JOIN THE GLBT HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Become a member of the GLBT Historical Society for free museum and program admission, discounts in the museum shop and other perks: www.glbthistory.org/memberships.