Nathan Manske
Founder and Executive Director, I'm From Driftwood
True LGBTQ Stories: 'Sent by the Gods': A Native Hawaiian Recalls Queer Life Before Westernization
Posted: 01/23/2012 7:01 pm
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nathan-manske/hawaii-homosexuality_b_1219444.htmlalso
http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2012/05/true-lgbt-story-novalei-gonzalez-im-from-hawaii/NovaLei was born and raised in Hawaii and knew what being queer was like back when Hawaii was still an independent country: "The LGBT person, in ancient times, was actually revered, and thought to be blessed and sent by the gods... There was a place for them in our society." NovaLei felt that he was gay his entire life, and he was very accepted and loved by his family. He was thought to be special. For those who were born and raised in traditional Hawaiian culture, these views are still strong.
Unfortunately, as Western culture encroached on Hawaii's native culture, things started to change, and queer people were viewed differently. NovaLei recalls, "I remember going to school one day and getting beaten up and called a sissy, and a queer. At the time, I was staying with my grandfather. I remember coming home and saying I wanted to kill myself."
