Gay and transgendered Native Americans said they have been the victims of hate crimes and discrimination.

Elton Naswood, a member of the Navajo Nation, was attacked outside of a gay bar in Phoenix. He didn't seek out medical attention or report the incident to the police because he felt ashamed.

Ashliana Hawelu, a Native Hawaiian, has been raped four times, thrown out of a car and beaten with a crowbar. When she went to the hospital, she said doctors treated her differently when they found out she was born a man.

Jheri Davis, a Navajo man, was beaten by four young Native men who gave him a ride. He spent two days in a hospital but reported the incident to the authorities. The four assailants, ages 16-21, were sent to jail.

Naswood, Hawelu and Davis shared their stories at the "Embracing Our Traditions" conference on HIV/AIDS in Indian Country that was held last week in Anchorage, Alaska.

Get the Story:
Workshop addresses gay-bashing and American Indians (AP 5/8)
pwpwd

Relevant Links:
Embracing Our Traditions - http://www.embracingourtraditions.org
National Native American AIDS Prevention Center - http://www.nnaapc.org
National HIV Prevention Conference - http://www.2005hivprevconf.org

Related Stories:
HIV/AIDS called a predator to Indian Country (5/4)
Native HIV/AIDS conference kicks off in Anchorage (5/2)
Native HIV/AIDS conference being held in Anchorage (5/1)
Native teens learning more about HIV/AIDS (04/25)
South Dakota Indian HIV/AIDS cases steady, still high (01/26)
Navajo Nation calls attention to HIV/AIDS (12/02)
Letter: Natives overlooked on World AIDS Day (12/1)
Native man blasts tribe's response to HIV/AIDS (09/21)
South Dakota Natives are 15 percent of HIV cases (07/18)
Editorial: AIDS a 'time bomb' for Native Americans (07/11)
Indian Country confronts rising rate of HIV/AIDS (7/4)
High HIV/AIDS rate among Native Americans (06/14)
New study cites alarming rates of Native HIV cases (05/13)
Study: Pregnant Native women have higher HIV rates (09/15)
Navajo Nation sees outbreak of AIDS and syphilis (04/07)
HIV/AIDS called 'time bomb' on reservations (01/12)
Aboriginals have highest rate of new HIV/AIDS cases (12/03)
New HIV cases reported in Indian Country (12/1)
Project brings AIDS testing to Mont. reservation (11/21)
High rate of STDs among Natives cause for alarm (07/14)
CDC recommends routine HIV screening (04/18)
New cases prompt Navajo Nation AIDS program (03/27)
HIV rates high for Native drug users (01/07)
Natives confront AIDS discrimination (12/03)
Women now half of AIDS cases worldwide (11/27)
Pueblos combating AIDS (03/27)
At risk populations lack HIV tests (11/30)
Need for greater AIDS awareness cited (11/28)
Microbe appears to fight HIV (9/6)
AIDS diagnosis comes late for many (8/15)
CDC: AIDS decline leveling off (8/14)
Native HIV rates in Wyo. rise (6/5)
CDC: HIV statistics point to new 'epidemic' (6/1)
AIDS battle reaches Natives (12/1)
HIV/AIDS cases explode (11/24)
Indian Country warned of AIDS threat (11/16)
HIV/AIDS in Indian Country (11/16)
Center to study health disparities (11/01)