200 Years of LGBTQIA+ History

From Shadows to Pride — UK & Global Timeline

Source Record

We'wha, a Zuni Lhamana, Weaving

Why this source is used

National Archives DocsTeach primary-source record for an 1886 Smithsonian photograph of We'wha, a Zuni lhamana, weaving.

Start with the answer

Start with the answer What do gender-diverse historical lives show? They show that people have crossed, rejected or reworked gender categories across many centuries, cultures and institutions. Read the topic guide Gender-Diverse Historical Lives Gender-diverse lives appear throughout history, from religious leaders and soldiers to Indigenous cultural ambassadors, surgeons and early transition pioneers.

Source Status

Publisher
DocsTeach / National Archives
Type
archive
Reliability
high
Cited by
3 pages

Source Links

Open original source https://docsteach.org/document/wewha-weaving/ Accessed 4 June 2026 Open archived copy https://web.archive.org/web/*/https://docsteach.org/document/wewha-weaving/

Used by Topics

Gender-Diverse Historical Lives

Used by Questions

What do gender-diverse historical lives show?

Used by Timeline Events

24 June 1886 CulturalInternational

We'wha, Zuni Lhamana, Meets President Cleveland

We'wha (c.1849–1896), a Zuni lhamana — a traditional gender role for those assigned male at birth who take on both male and female social and ceremonial roles — travelled to Washington, D.C. and met President Grover Cleveland, presenting a handcrafted gift. Washington society assumed We'wha was a cisgender woman. The visit demonstrated the existence of respected gender-diverse roles in Indigenous cultures long before Western LGBTQ+ movements.