Being an advocate is a big responsibility and not something you do to be controversial or reactionary because the physical, mental and spiritual well-being of folks who are hurting and facing injustice are at stake. You have to be mindful, humble and accountable.
This morning I was shocked to see a youth advocate saying "whatever you want to call yourself","there is water on certain reservations and indigenous communities that make you gay"
and "being gay, being programmed to be gay and then messing with science to fuck your hormones up to create you to be gay are entirely different things"
He said so much more that just got worse & even the "greater context" follow-up did not help at all. My heart hurts for our two-spirit & lgbtqia youth because this is the kind of harmful, dangerous rhetoric & ignorance that contributes to bullying & suicide among Native youth.
The fact this advocate is a suicide prevention counselor is even more troubling and he has some work to do on himself.
Being a good advocate and relative is knowing when you are not the person to address certain issues or to speak for communities, it's knowing when to stay in your lane, pass the mic and elevate the voices of people with lived experience, with more expertise.
It's knowing when you need to shut up and listen especially if you make a mistake or cause harm regardless of whether or not it was your intent.
Being a good advocate, a good relative is always remembering that you need to check your ego at the door and make a concerted effort to do and be better when you are held accountable for your words and actions.
It's learning to not be defensive, to not center your intent or feelings over the people you hurt. We have to do better for each other.

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More from @johnniejae

12 Jun
Homophobia in NDN Country and the church is why I never felt normal or like there was something wrong with me. It wasn't until after my divorce a few years ago and moving from OK to LA that I had space and support to really think about my sexuality.
Turns out nothing is wrong with me, I'm just the A in LGBTQIA2S. Asexual, I am asexual. It's not the result of hormone imbalances, chronic illnesses, my mental health or trauma. That's not to say these factors don't play a part in other's asexuality, they just don't in mine.
And it definitely wasn't the tap water in Native communities!

I just am. I also assert the trauma that I have experienced didn't impact my sexuality but was the result of my sexuality being invalidated and disregarded.
Read 11 tweets
12 Jun
Being chronically ill is some bullshit. Do you know how irritating it is to not only have health issues but to have to humble yourself and tell the last person you ever want to tell "You were right" that they were right cuz you are stubborn ass of a person.
My kidneys suck, they are pretty much bearing the brunt of this flare up and my sugars have been very unstable, high one minute and dropping super low the next. My partner had just got done telling me to keep a few glucose tablets in my pocket but did i listen?
NO! I didn't reach them in time and passed out l, bruised up my ribs hitting the counter on my way down. Thankfully, I'm short and round, short fall before I just kind of roll.

Pretty accurate mental image of me falling 🤣
Read 4 tweets
13 Oct 20
Origin Story:
On this day, this exact time 40 years ago, a blue butted monkey took me directly from my mother's loins as I blew spit bubbles and he held me up in victory so the world could bow at my lil infant feet.
The world rejoiced and then roared with laughter when the blue butted bastard dropped me, but that's besides the point cuz' I'm still cool as balls and still destined to be world dictator......but here's to another year of being adorkably awkward and kicking ass.
Broke my hiatus twice but I had to this time because I'm alive. I did it. I made it to 40.
Read 6 tweets
20 Sep 20
Forget party alliances for a moment, does it make anyone else sick to see politicians and PACs getting MILLIONS in donations when so many of us as individuals are struggling financially, when businesses are struggling???
I mean if you really look at the ads they run for these donations, it's all cookie cutter...donate to keep republicans from blah blah, donate to keep democrats from blah blah. These folks do NOT need our money.
This is exactly why it makes me sick and so damn angry.

Read 6 tweets
19 Sep 20
Well, this certainly is a shitty year and I hate to add to the shit, but I got some updates.
I thought about doing a video, I thought about blogging but I can't ever seem to find the words in that moment or I overthink them so I figured I'd do what I do best and tweet cuz I can't control what my fingers say lol
I get too honest and that's really what I need to do. There's this quote from John Green's A Fault in Our Stars that has always bothered me because it's too true for me.
Read 21 tweets
6 Sep 20
We need to talk. When I call folks out or talk about injustice, I do not do so to hurt or ruin, nor do I want anyone to be hurt or ruined, even if they have hurt me or engaged in behaviors that hurt others. Image
I do so because I want accountability. I want justice. I want people to be able to grow, to do and be better. I also don't expect instantaneous change because we didn't get to where we are right now overnight, we didn't become the people we are overnight.
But that being said, when people engage in harmful behaviors whether it was their intent or not, I do expect them to stop the moment they are informed even if they don't necessarily understand or get it at the moment. It hurts no one to just stop, listen and learn.
Read 14 tweets

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