There’s so much. You know, believing in the creation story of the Diné. In the creation story, you believe in Changing Women, and you pray to the Holy People, and you think of your ancestors first. And there’s Two-Spirited people who can be gay and can be these things. And while all those teachings are beautiful or great, it’s kind of hard to tell people I am Native American, but I don’t believe in those things. And you know, there’s a lot of pushback saying, “Well, you kind of just listen to the white man. You’re just giving up. Your ancestors died for you. Why are you this way? You’re disrespecting your past”—
I dealt with it in school, and little pieces here and there. And it’s that same feeling, I said, “You know what, I know it’s true. I know this gospel is true.” And people will always say things—I knew that from a young age. So I didn’t really take it to heart because it hurt, but at the end of the day, I’m like, I know this is true and I know what I’m doing is right. And I’d rather do what I know is right than do what people think is right, if that makes sense. So as long as I knew my family loved me, and I knew that I was right, I was okay.