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Before assimilation, two-spirit people, including those who identify as transgender, played very important roles in tribal communities. Transgender people now face discrimination. According to a study by the National Center for Transgender Equality, over half of transgender people have attempted suicide. In today’s show, we talk about the struggle to regain that historical acceptance and celebrate our Native people who call themselves transgender. We will also look at the roles of transgender people in their communities today. Guests: Ty Defoe (Oneida and Ojibw) – artist, social activist, musician and writer, tradition keeper Sydney Freeland (Navajo) – Director and writer of Drunktown’s Finest Robyn Silverfox (Navajo) – pre-med student
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on today’s talk a film was mentioned.. i believe the name is JunkTown’s Rising??? If this is inaccurate could you please give me correct title and the film’s director/producer. I would very much like to see this film but when I Googled it came up with no information. Thank you
Hi Chris,
The film mentioned on today’s show is “Drunktown’s Finest” by Sydney Freeland. You can find more at http://www.drunktownsfinest.com.
Thanks for tuning in!
-NAC
Hello –
I’m in Albuquerque today and had the opportunity to catch the last half hour or so of your show. I called in with response after hearing the mother of her pre-teen son speak, but unfortunately didn’t make it on air (which is fine! – glad to listen in via telephone to your guests & other callers.).
I’m of Spanish blood & American Indigenous blood – born for Edge of Water Clan and also an actress. I turned the radio on just as the clip from “Drunktown’s Finest” aired with the grandfather character telling the paraphrased creation story. Sydney’s film sounds really beautiful.
With regard and respect to “Balance”, I just wanted to say that I think there’s nothing wrong with a person of any gender desiring to express or cultivate the male or the feminine within them (like your other female caller who said she finally felt comfortable wearing male clothes and feeling more comfortable/herself around men), but I do think it all comes down to balance and that we are living in a world out of balance – broken families, adultery, etc. I’ve no judgement – I just understand that these imbalances in people are simply reaction or consequence to previous imbalance and energy trying to balance itself out – does that make sense? The thing is, to celebrate and cultivate a Transgender lifestyle – I believe – is not right, most importantly because it usually (especially with budding adulthood) encompasses sexual behavior. I understand and agree with acceptance/tolerance, but to celebrate or cultivate the Transgender and also Homosexual lifestyle I think is actually cultivating imbalance in the world as a whole. What we feed and water survives and thrives. (Everything else dies)
I think much of the anger and even illegal criminal activity toward the Transgender community may stem from people’s deeply-rooted conviction of right and wrong who simply cannot express their opposing stance properly and are motivated to react/do something. I think the core issue of any problems/dilemma (w/ regard to this) is the Sexuality or any behavior which constitutes Immorality within Transgender identity and lifestyle (and I am not saying that all people who identify themselves as Transgender are sexually active). My own stance/belief is that any sexual relationship (not just Transgender or Homosexual) outside the bond of holy matrimony/sacred marriage is wrong/immoral. – It is against God’s (the Creator’s) will. I think the allowance of one’s self-expression is fine, especially with children – because as the mother that called in when I was listening expressed, you don’t want to harm a child’s self-esteem – but I think there needs to be a firm boundary set in place with regard to right and wrong and morality when it comes to cultivating one’s identity and self. This is in
fact where morality needs to exist – what is right and what is wrong. We need to cultivate the proper energy within us and parents need to do this for their children. Parents need to set the proper boundaries for their children. – If a community and culture begins to blur the lines and even promote or celebrate blurred lines of what boys do, what girls do – their roles and the roles of men and women in society – then I think imbalance will only increase. Obviously, great imbalance begins when men leave their women – fathers leave their families and women have to fill their roles (And vice-versa). These sorts of imbalances are what create the behavior imbalances down the line, in our children and do on. It will never stop unless we begin to – and in a gentle way is just fine – take a stance for the Creator’s will.
I just hear it in society these days – in the media such as your radio show today – this movement of people embracing Homosexual and Transgender behavior and expression and I hear and see the popular attitude of protecting, celebrating, and promoting this behavior and expression. I just don’t think it is the right way for us, for our children, and for our future. Perhaps we love so much and perhaps because we have been hurt so much that we think embracing these behaviors and expressions are correct and good (we don’t want to upset/hurt a conflicted person that we love). If we look at examples of actual people who live/lived as Transgender or Homosexual truthfully onscreen or read about their lives, there is usually imbalance and pain involved somewhere down the line. I don’t think we can ever truly heal and have a beautiful, peaceful – balanced – world for our children and future if we are not honest with ourselves about what the root problems really are. And I don’t think we as a global society will ever really be able to face these problems – and solve them/end them, in a good way – if we keep believing and spending our time & energy to promote the belief that acceptance and tolerance should also include any sort of celebration and cultivation of an imbalance. It will take gentleness because people are involved, but as long as we start with the truth and keep coming back to the truth, I think true healing is possible. (Thank you.)
On a more personal note:
Yes – Love is patient, gentle, and kind.
But love also disciplines.
On the night before his crucifixion, Jesus told Peter – “Away from me, Satan” –
when Peter seemed to be distracting Jesus.
Jesus also drew a line in the dirt for Mary Magdalen, calling to the minds of her would-be stoners all the sins that they’d committed – making them drop their stones and walk away.
– This calling to mind and ‘putting Peter in his place’ are example of love too…
Yes – Love is patient, gentle, and kind.
But love is also strong enough to say “no”.
Thank you again (Ahéhee’). May peace be with you.
Thanks for your broadcast this afternoon!
Sincerely,
Judy