Indigenous Homophobia as Political Pathology

North American Aboriginals, (sorry, I don´t want to offend those who prefer to be called “Indian,” but this is an Indigenist column) aren´t respected anywhere. Not even at home. Even the country that spawned this colonialist monstrosity sees fit to transform Native realities into some Europocentropic hybrid of fact and fantasy that serves only their needs. While this has habitually happened before, for some odd reason this time mainstream American leaders in Indian Country are doing something about it. But the sudden rush to correct the genocidal record has a funny smell about it.

England´s Telegraph UK published an article entitled “Navajo on the war path over gay rights charter” about how the name Navajo passes for “gay-friendly” across the pond. While I fully support the Dine´ in this matter as a matter of love and on general principle for my people, the existence of European-style homophobia in Indian Country dismays me. Such an attitude is an anathema learned from our conquerors, like alcoholism, drug abuse and casinos. It has nothing to do with being a “real” Indian. Neither does serving in the United States military, celebrating Christmas and Thanksgiving or placing American flag stickers and pins on every available surface. People who are “different” were and still are regarded as unique and deserving of respect. To do otherwise is in a very real sense is as non-Indian as one can get.