Supporting Awareness of LGBTQ American Indians in Western Art

ALPHA OMEGA ARTS 
By Ernest Disney-Britton

"Fertility Blessings" by Todd Bordeaux, 11 by 44 b 5 inches.
The two turtles and two lizards on the pole represent "Two Spirit" people.

Fred Martinez was a Navajo boy, who was also a girl ("Two Spirit"). At age 16, Fred became one of the youngest hate-crime victims in modern American history when he was brutally murdered for his sexual identity. With public support, the Eiteljorg Museum for American Indians and Western Art in Indianapolis will explore this tragedy via a film and discussion entitled ""TWO SPIRITS" [Trailer]" on September 28, 2013. The program investigates culture, tradition and sexual-identity. In contrast to modern-day culture, Navajo culture historicallty celebrated four genders. Asdzaan, feminine female – female comes first because they are matrilineal – and hastiin, masculine male. Then nadleehi, or feminine masculine and the dilbaa, or masculine female. To support the "Two Spirit" program in Indianapolis, visit indyarts/power2give.org.