Join us for the 2026 Southwest American Indian Two Spirit LGBTQIA+ Rainbow Gathering!
- DATE: Saturday, August 8, 2026
- TIME: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- LOCATION: Phoenix Indian Center (4041 N. CENTRAL AVE. BLDG B PHOENIX, AZ 85012)
PHOENIX INDIAN CENTER
Southwest American Indian 2SLGBTQIA+ Rainbow Gathering
ABOUT THE EVENT
This free, one day event centers Indigiqueer speakers & resource sharing for Two Spirit relatives, advocates, health specialists, tribal citizens & allies!
This event brings together
- 2SLGBTQIA+ relatives & allies
- Researchers & Advocates
- Behavioral Health Specialists
- Prevention Specialists
- Tribal and local community members
To download our sponsorship packet, Click Here.
For event information, contact egeorge@phxindcenter.org
For media inquiries, contact sarthur@phxindcenter.org
Dream Catcher Award Winner
Person who has demonstrated a lifetime commitment of service to the American Indian 2SLGBTQIA+ community in the Southwest.
Ryan Jones Miguel / Judam Ep:dak (Bear Heart)
O’odham/Yaqui Gila River Indian Community/Black/Hispanic
(Love/Lover/They/Him/Them/His)
Ryan Jones Miguel, also known as “Judam Ep:dak” (Bear Heart), is an O’odham and Yaqui Native American from the Gila River Indian Community with Black and Hispanic descent. He is known as a traditional O’odham singer sharing blessings and healing, and male drag entertainer who shares the art of humbleness and love with the world. Ryan has dedicated his talents to advocating for the LGBTQ2S+ community and fundraising for major events and organizations, including the Phoenix Pride Scholarship Foundation, Diné Pride Scholarship Foundation, the Phoenix Indian Center, and the Imperial Court.
Basket Award Winner
Person or organization who is recognized as an ally of the American Indian 2SLGBTQ+ community in the Southwest.
Andrew Rascon
Andrew Rascon is a Phoenix-based community leader and advocate for LGBTQ+ health equity and inclusion. He founded Fierce Friends of Phoenix, a nonprofit dedicated to creating safe, affirming spaces for LGBTQ+ people and allies through community building, volunteerism, and service.
As Development and Community Relations Manager at Prisma Community Care, Andrew leads fundraising, strengthens partnerships, and expands resources that advance health equity across Arizona. As an ally to the American Indian 2SLGBTQ+ community, he is committed to fostering authentic relationships rooted in respect, collaboration, and cultural humility while creating spaces where everyone can thrive.
Art Contest Winner
Kayla Shaggy
Diné and Annishinabe
She/Her
Kayla Shaggy was born December 15th, 1993 in Shiprock, New Mexico. She would go on to study art at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Art .
She is currently working on her own art and various comic book series. Kayla has drawn for a variety of clients such as Unsolved Mysteries and Save History.
About the Artwork
A painting showcasing different Indigenous tribes of New Mexico, wearing their traditional clothes and showcasing their tribe’s art. The rainbow is of significant meaning within Diné stories as a pathway and communication from the Holy People to the Diné.
It’s also a symbol of unity and references the pride flag, and the landscape includes sunflowers, clouds, roan and the sun in a sort of “Fox’s Wedding”. The painting is meant to be of harmony and beauty showcasing different Indigenous women and culture.
Speakers
Key Note Speaker:
Dr. Souksavanh T. Keovorabouth
Assistant Professor
She/Her/They/Them
Diné
Souksavanh T Keovorabouth, Diné, PhD (She/Hers/They/Them), is Diné and Second-Generation Laotian, Queer, Trans, and Two-Spirit, and an Assistant Professor at Northern Arizona University in Women and Gender Studies and Applied Indigenous Studies. Her research focus is primarily on Indigenous Queer, Trans, and Two-Spirit Studies, Gender construction, urban diaspora, Indigenous masculinities, and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives.
She was the recipient of the Runningstrong Dreamstarter Youth Grant in 2024, 1 of 5 Runningstrong Dreamstarter Gold recipients in 2025, received the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development’s 2026 Native American 40 under 40, and was awarded the Transgender Education Network, a Mellon Foundation-funded research initiative, to host an Indigenous Queer, Trans, and Two-Spirit writing network for IQT2S scholars, creatives, and activists throughout the U.S. to be hosted in Phoenix.
Speaker:
Lorenzo Gomez
Multimedia Journalist
He/Him
Chicano / Mestizo
Lorenzo Gomez is a Chicano multimedia journalist based in Phoenix, originally from Albuquerque. His work centers on identity, culture and community, with a current reporting project exploring the impacts of the 2005 Diné Marriage Act and broader expectations of gender and sexuality on the Navajo Nation. As someone outside the Diné community, Lorenzo approaches this work with transparency and respect, grounded in years of collaboration with Indigenous communities in the Southwest. Through storytelling, he aims to amplify lived experiences, foster dialogue and contribute to conversations around visibility, equity and the future of 2SLGBTQ+ rights in Native communities.
Speaker:
Dr. Dougherty Tsalabutie
He/Him
Belief in Healing Advocate
Dr. Dougherty Tsalabutie is from the Pueblo of Zuni, public health professional, and Belief in Healing Advocate. With more than 30 years of experience in education and Indigenous health initiatives, he is dedicated to advancing culturally grounded approaches to wellness, leadership, and community empowerment.
He earned his Doctor of Education in Health Professions from A.T. Still University, where his research introduced “Belief in Healing” as an essential component of holistic health. Through his professional experience, Dr. Tsalabutie combines Indigenous wisdom, storytelling, and research to inspire healing, resilience, and hope for individuals and communities.