More than a few of my precious SF memories have come from attending the annual BAAITS (Bay Area American Indian Two-Spirits) Powwow, the largest gathering of LGBTQAI /Two-Spirit Native Americans. When it was held at SOMArts, I loved popping in for the colorful pageantry, sacred ceremony, incredible dancing, and Native American goods—don’t forget the loaded fry bread, yum. It felt so good to be at a cultural gathering that celebrated and even revered non-gender conforming folks, so very different from what’s going on in the rest of the world, it seems.

Now the powwow, which is open to the public and streamed online, is held at Fort Mason and BAAITS has a new executive director—Angel C. Fabian, known in ceremonial spaces as Tlahuizpapalotl (Butterfly of Light). I can’t wait to see what they have in store. A press release quotes community advisor Amelia saying, “This is a space for all of us to gather respectfully and celebrate Native traditions. Whether you are African-American, Native American, White, gay, straight, transgender, whoever you are and wherever your roots originated, come with curiosity and kindness and you will enjoy the company of 5,000 like-minded good and connected people as we celebrate traditions of music and art and togetherness.”

Don’t miss this wonderful Bay Area tradition. The Powwow takes place Sat/4, 10am-6pm at Fort Mason Festival Pavilion, SF. More info here.