NE2SS Councilmember Kevin VanWanseele traveled back to his hometown, San Diego, CA, to march with Karen Vigneault and her organization Nations of the Four Directions. NOTFD organizes the ‘twin-spirit’ community of San Diego metro area. NE2SS came to support their organization and ultimately support the national movement of the two-spirit/twin-spirit/winkte community.

“Most of the two-spirits were on the sidelines trying to blend in. When we passed we kept motioning them to join us in our group,” VanWanseele said. “A few joined us.”

Vigneault said she was contacted by numerous two-spirit friends afterward and asked to march with them next year.

“I saw a lot of faces on the sidelines that looked like they wanted so much to be marching and not just sitting. It’s surprising that there is still a lot of shame with being gay in such a large city. Maybe next year there’ll be a little less shame.”

Karen Vigneault wanted to thank the NorthEast Two-Spirit Society for their support.

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Reminder from: Northeast_2-Spirit_Society Yahoo! Group

Monthly Business Meeting

Date: Wednesday July 18, 2007
Time: 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Location: LGBT Community Center
Street: 208 W. 13th St.
Directions: Take the 1,2,3, A, C, E, F or V to 14th St. Stop Map
Phone: 646.351.7360

Sign up for updates, reminders and to be a part of the online discussion boards at Yahoo! Groups.

The NorthEast Two-Spirit Society proudly stepped off on a hot summer day in June. They led the People of Color contingent past cheering crowds. NE2SS member Othell sent over these beautiful shots of that day. If you have any pictures of that day send them over to info@ne2ss.org.

Enjoy! And see you next year!

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Kent Lebsock, Harlan Pruden and Kevin VanWanseele were profiled for a piece on the NorthEast Two-Spirit Society in today’s New York Times Metro section. Read about it here.
Here’s a snippet:

The bias that many gay Indians say they have experienced from other Indians is a legacy of the encounter between Indians and white European colonizers, according to Brian J. Gilley, an assistant professor of anthropology at the University of Vermont, who is the author of “Becoming Two-Spirit: Gay Identity and Social Acceptance in Indian Country.”

Historically, in many tribes, individuals who entered into same-sex relationships were considered holy and treated with utmost respect and acceptance, said Dr. Gilley. “Prior to European contact, sexuality was not a determining factor in someone’s identity,” he said. “It was the role in the community. Gender was tied to that role. Who you had sex with was not a concern. The Europeans come, Native American societies are thrust in rapid change, and some societies incorporate European ideals quickly.”

And because the European settlers, influenced in part by their religious beliefs, were largely intolerant of homosexuality, they helped reshape long-held practices among many Indians, Dr. Gilley said.

Congratulations to the leadership of the NorthEast Two-Spirit Society. Special thanks go out to NE2SS member, Othell, for introducing the reporter Dalton Walker to our organization.

AIDS to Native Eyes was a big success for the NorthEast Two Spirit Society. We honored our ancestors, laughed with our friends and organized for future generations of Native people. The documentary you are about to watch covers parts of the last 25 years of the fight against AIDS in New York City, to Native Eyes. (The video is hosted by YouTube and is shown in two parts. Click “Read the rest of entry” for part 2.)

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