Every year, more and more states are beginning to recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day on Columbus Day or completely replace it. Last Monday, President Joe Biden made a statement acknowledging Indigenous Peoples’ Day and celebrating the diverse culture of American Indians, Alaskan Natives, and Native Hawaiians. Every year, National Coming Out Day is celebrated on October 11th, and this year it landed on the same Monday as Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

It’s important that these days receive recognition because people don’t realize how important it is to protect these minorities. Native American Women are three times more likely to be a victim of murder compared to white-American women. LGBT+ adults are twice as likely to experience homelessness compared to the general population. Native American women, two-spirited individuals (Transgender Indigenous People) and transgender women are extremely targeted minorities in America. 

National Coming Out Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day isn’t just about protecting the minorities of our country, but it’s also about celebrating diversity. Americans live on Indigenous Peoples’ homelands so respect should be made to them. From Galveston Bay to Corpus Christi Bay, the land we live on was once land inhabited by the Karankawa tribe. Many white settlers survived because of Native American tribes and learned from how they lived. Two-spirited people were often celebrated in some tribes. Queer people contributed to social rights movements. 

For years, queer people and indigenous people were victims of society and the American government. Queer people hid their identities so they wouldn’t end up homeless, jobless or dead. Native Americans were forced into schools where they were forever stripped of their culture. It’s time we recognize these people and spark change for these people and all people.