LAFAYETTE, La (KLFY) — The acceptance of LGBTQIA+ members has a deeper rooted history than most people realize, even here in Acadiana, and now has evolved into celebration and awareness. 

According to Jeffery Darensbourg, historian and tribal councilmember of the Atakapa-Ishak Nation, he said that what is defined as queerness of today was a norm amongst indigenous people of the Americas before European colonization. 

He said colonial French military, other European settlers and religious officials would record openly gay and trans people amongst indigenous nations such as Atakapa-Ishak, Natchez, Houma and Choctaw who lived across Louisiana. 

“Queer people have always lived in the area.” Darensbourg said. “Our tribe’s first contact with Europeans was in 1528, when we rescued Cabeza de Vaca and his companions who were shipwrecked in the Gulf of Mexico. The Spaniard noticed among us what he called a ‘devilish thing,’ namely, same-sex marriage and what we would now call openly trans people.”

Darensbourg shared how indigenous culture had a different perspective on gender and sexuality that were outside heteronormativity and European ideals. In his research, he noted how some indigenous people recognized the existence of more than two genders, engaged in homosexuality, identified as transgendered and held leadership roles outside gender norms. For instance, there was a young woman chief in Lafayette in the early colonial period by the name of Quitachoulabenacky. 

“The indigenous people have been here for many thousands of years.” Darensbourg said. “And those were also the first queer, trans people, the first openly queer, openly trans people, first people to have same-sex marriage here. And it was a perfectly normal part of our societies. That only ended when the Europeans arrived.” 

Following European colonization, openly gay and trans people amongst the indigenous peoples and other groups were silenced and marginalized. Since then, the LGBTQIA+ acceptance and visibility in Acadiana has evolved over time, according to Brandi Ortiz Comeaux, of the Acadiana Queer Collective. 

“This deep, pre-colonial history of acceptance and visibility reminds us that queerness is not new or foreign to this land.” Comeaux said. “It is a testament to resilience, hidden strength, and enduring community that queer individuals have continued to find ways to connect, support each other, and express their identities, even through periods of forced conversion and societal pressures. Today, we are seeing a beautiful blossoming of that history, with more visible community building and a growing sense of collective pride and belonging.”

Founded in 2021, the Acadiana Queer Collective is an organization dedicated to creating safe, inclusive spaces for LGBTQIA+ members and allies here in the south. 

Comeaux said there are many examples of queerness in Acadiana culture that calls back to the roots of southern identity and community. 

“It’s in the resilience and adaptability that mirror the spirit of Acadiana’s history,” Comeaux said. “It’s found in the deep family bonds and chosen families that are so central to both queer and Southern life. It’s seen in the music, art and food where individuals express their authentic selves, contributing to the rich tapestry of our region. The very nature of ‘making a way out of no way’ in Acadiana resonates deeply with the queer experience of forging identity and community.”

Comeaux said the goal of AQC and members of the LGBTQIA+ community is not to take up space but provide space for those who need it and that these people hope for a future where their existence is not questioned and their rights are not debated. 

“The one message we want Acadiana to know about the queer community is this: We are your neighbors, your friends, your family, and your fellow Louisianians,” Comeaux said. “We contribute to the unique culture, economy, and spirit of Acadiana. We seek the same things as everyone else: love, belonging, safety, and the opportunity to live full, joyful lives. Our presence enriches Acadiana, and our celebration is an invitation to greater understanding and unity for all.”

Darensbourg said that if we take the time to educate on the history of Acadiana and those who live in it we can create voices of the past into the future. 

“One of things I would suggest if you’re talking about the gay–trans history of an area or indigenous history of an area try to find people talking about it within those communities,” Darensbourg said. “Try to find historians and writers talking about it from within those communities. Because you’ll find the knowledge that people have are not new things, we have found out they are things people have been wanting to tell the world for a long time and listen to those voices.”

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