Usa Kasakabo Pride Family,
As we dive into 2SLGBTQIA+ Month, I want to share why Indigenous Peoples’ Day is important to me, and more broadly, Pride.
Far Away From Home
My family is from the Archipelago of Borikén (Puerto Rico), famous for reggaeton, rum, and for being the oldest colony in the world.
As a first-generation Boricua growing up in the diaspora, Columbus Day left a sour taste in my mouth. A reminder of 1493 and the violence, displacement, and genocide that my people, the Indigenous peoples of the Americas and around the globe, were (and continue to be) subjected to.
Especially now, it has been a painful year to watch Indigenous people globally being subjected to such violence. In this hurt, I am reminded that queer and trans Native joy is resilience and that we persist and resist for the seven generations after us as the seven generations before us. Indigenous Peoples’ Day is a reminder that the fight continues and while we fight, we must find joy and solace in continuing our efforts.
Pride Is On Native Land
As we celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day, it’s important to recognize that LGBTQIA+ liberation is deeply intertwined with the struggles and histories of Indigenous communities. The land we occupy carries stories and legacies of generations of the Kumeyaay Nation.
Two-Spirit, an umbrella term coined in the 90’s speaks to Indigenous 3rd, 4th, and 5th genders. It is also no surprise that Indigiqueers have long served as cultural and environmental stewards. Putting their bodies on the line to defend their homelands, culture, and identities from settlers.
So reader, I ask you: how are you celebrating Indigenous people on occupied land? How do you uplift Indigenous people here at home and globally? And if you’re not sure, that’s okay! Consider starting by supporting our Community Partners below:
Uplifting Our Community Partners
In the spirit of solidarity, we want to highlight two incredible organizations that we hope our Pride family supports:
Queer Sol Collective engages communities on the land and introduces Indigenous methodologies that activate and restore the symbiotic relationships between the individual, the land, and the collective.
You can follow Queer Sol Collective here.
Strong Hearted Native Women’s Coalition works to bring awareness against sexual assault, domestic violence and murdered & missing within tribal communities in California and have been a community partner of Pride for several years.
You can donate to SHNWC here.
Indigiqueer Futures
Let’s commit to uplifting Indigenous voices, learning from their stories, and supporting the ongoing fight for justice and equality. Whether through engaging with community partners, participating in local events, or simply reflecting on our own connections to these histories, we can blaze forward a new path.
Lastly, let us pay honor to the queer, trans, and Two-Spirit Indigiqueers paving the way forward. I hope these leaders, artists, and activists bring some joy and Happy Indigenous Peoples’ Day!
Erica Pinto (Kumeyaay) currently serves as Chairwoman of the Jamul Indian Village of California, one of the 13 tribes of the Kumeyaay Nation. Pinto was also a speaker at the 2024 Spirit of Stonewall Rally.
Victoria Cruz (Taíno/Boricua) is an activist, organizer, elder who fought alongside other Stonewall activists such as Marsha P. Johnson, Stormé DeLarverie, and Sylvia Rivera.
Tommy Pico (Kumeyaay) author, screenplay writer, and artist who has written for shows such as Rez Dogs.
Dane Figueroa Edidi (Nigerian/Afro-Taíno/Cuban) is a playwright, actor, and poet.
Sharice Davids (Ho-Chunk) is the first LGBQTIA+ Congresswoman elected to the House of Representatives from Kansas.
With Pride,
Esmeralda “Esmé” Quintero-Cubillan
Vote with Pride Field Manager
San Diego Pride raises funds primarily through festival ticket and beverage sales, and through sponsorships, and exhibitor fees. These funds support San Diego Pride’s community philanthropy which has distributed more than $2.5 million in advancement of its mission to foster pride, equality, and respect for all lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities locally, nationally, and globally.
