FOUNDER

Yoeme (Yaqui)

She/Her

Gabriela Leon, Yaqui/Yoeme, born in Sonora Mexico. Identifies as a Two Spirit person. Gabriela has worked in the field of HIV/AIDS for over 20 years. Committed to ensuring that the Indigenous voice is not lost and that Indigenous communities from Latin America are always represented and accounted for.

FOUNDER

Diné (Navajo) & Zuni

She/Her

Terri Jay, Navajo / Zuni of the Navajo Reservation and residency of Los Angeles. Co-Founding Member of Indigenous Pride LA 2018. 19 years professionally working in Non-Profit environment. Urban Rez Casting member.

FOUNDER

Diné (Navajo)

She/Her

Yá’át’ééh shik’is dóó shik’é dóó shidine’é. Yuè Begay yinishyé. Naakai Dine'é nishłį́. Kinyaa'áanii bááshishchíín. Dibéłzhiní da'shicheii. Tábąąhá da'shinálí. Ákót'éego t'áá diné asdzáán nishłį́. Ákót'éego t'áá nádleehí nishłį́ 'ałdó'. Kinłání Dookʼoʼoosłííd Biyaagidi shiʼdizhchį́. K'ad Indigenous Pride LA biCo-Chair nishłį́. Freelance Graphic Artist dóó Consultant nishłį́ ’ałdó’. Public Healthígíí bá naashnish. California State University State, Long Beachdę́ę́’ niniłtááh. K’ad Tovaangardi kééhasht’į́ ndi Tódí Néesh Zhee’dę́ę́’ naashá.

"Hello my friends, family, and my people. My name is Yuè Begay. I am of the Nomadic People Clan, Born for the Towering House Clan. My maternal grandfather is of the Black Sheep Clan and my paternal grandfather is of the Near the Water’s Edge Clan. In this way, I am a Navajo transgender woman. I was born in Flagstaff, AZ. I am a Co-Chair of Indigenous Pride LA. I work as a Freelance Graphic Artist as well as a Consultant. I work in the Public Health field. I graduated from California State University, Long Beach. I currently live in Los Angeles, CA but am originally from Kayenta, AZ (Navajo Nation)."

FOUNDER

Hopi & P'aéaekilâ Pueblo

They/Them, He/Him

Ezak Amaviska Perez was born and raised in and around Tongva~Los Angeles, CA. They identify as trans and two spirit of center. He is of Hopi & P'aéaekilâ Puebloan people, as well as Latinx. Ezak is the Executive Director of Gender Justice LA (GJLA) - a grassroots social justice organization led by black, indigenous, non-binary, two-spirit, trans people of color in LA. Ezak has been holding circles, organizing, training and facilitating locally in LA as well as nationally for the past 15 years. They have been honored by the Sons & Brothers Portrait Series for Native American heritage month.

FOUNDER

Aniyunwiya (Eastern Cherokee) & Nanticoke

He/Him

​Osiyo nagada,

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Tsanusdi Hudson Tibbetts is American of British, Eastern Cherokee Band, and Nanticoke descent. The Creator has blessed with health, sustenance, friendships, love, and as I enter elder status, I hope with wisdom as well. As a preteen, I developed the consciousness that I was born what we call today “a gay man”. I have survived a good deal of adversity and thank the Creator for granting me resilience and strength of spirit. In adulthood, my connections with my ancestors grew. I strived to learn as much as possible about our indigenous ways, and was introduced to the Two-Spirit tradition. For myself, there is more serenity and holiness in the traditional indigenous ways, and I feel a greater sense of purpose and connection to the people and the world.

Wado Unetlanuhi

FOUNDER

Chicana/Mexicana, Chihene, Rarámuri, & Xochipilteca Nahua

Yehuat, i- & Ze, Zir

Professor Gabriel S. Estrada teaches Indigenous, LGBTQ, and Comparative Religion at California State University Long Beach. They are an HIV+ community board member of the Red Circle Project/AIDS Project Los Angeles and secretary/co-Founder of City of Angels Two-Spirit Society (CATSS). Through matrilineage, Dr. Estrada is Chicana/Mexicana, Chihene, and Rarámuri; their patrilineal line is Chicano/Mexicano and Xochipilteca Nahua.

FOUNDER

Akimel O'odham (Pima)

He/Him

Johnathon Paul Talamantes – Akimel O’odham (Pima) enrolled at Gila river Indian Reservation in Arizona. I identify as a Two Spirit person. More specifically I identify as WIkovat, the traditional term for a Two Spirit person in O’odham culture. Born and raised in South Central Los Angeles. Blessed to be close enough to my traditional homeland to be able to experience life on the reservation and as an Urban Indian. I have always been very active in the local Native community. Started going to the American Indian clubhouse as a youth and also went to Central High school both at United American Indian Involvement. Started attending The Red Circle Projects Two Spirit support groups when I was 18 years old. That’s where I met my mentor Elton Naswood. It is also where I first learned what the term Two Spirit meant. The support I received from The Red Circle helped me discover more about my identity as a Two Spirit Person and led me to initiate some positive behavioral changes in my life. I came on full time at The Red Circe Project in November 2017 as an outreach worker. It has been my greatest pleasure to work in, with, and for my community. In June 2018 I had a traditional coming out ceremony at The Red Circle Projects Pow Wow. This would have been done by the Wikovat person around the time of puberty. I was blessed to have an elder approach me about doing the ceremony. They wanted to show the community that this is something that’s always been done. Two Spirit people have always been here and there is even ceremony for us.