Though Two-Spirit may now be included in the umbrella of LGBTQ, The term "Two-Spirit" does not simply mean someone who is a Native American/Alaska Native and gay.
Traditionally, Native American two-spirit people were male, female, and sometimes intersexed individuals who combined activities of both men and women with traits unique to their status as two-spirit people. In most tribes, they were considered neither men nor women; they occupied a distinct, alternative gender status. In tribes where two-spirit males and females were referred to with the same term, this status amounted to a third gender. In other cases, two-spirit females were referred to with a distinct term and, therefore, constituted a fourth gender. Although there were important variations in two-spirit roles across North America, they shared some common traits:
Native American Two-Spirits Look to Reclaim Lost Heritage
Growing up, Timothy “Twix” Ward, a member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe in Arizona, thought he was “normal.” But his family recognized there was something “special” about him.
“It wasn’t until I got older that I knew who I was, that I was different from everyone else,” he said. Ward identifies not as a man or a woman, but both — and neither: Twix Ward is a Two-Spirit.
The term was first devised in Winnipeg, Canada, during a 1990 inter-tribal conference of Native American/First Nations gays and lesbians. Derived from the Ojibwe language, the term was deliberately chosen to serve as a “pan-Indian” term encompassing indigenous people who don’t fit into any normative gender role.
(IHS) Indian Health Care and LGBTQ
In 2010, the Indian Health Service (IHS) and its tribal, community, and federal partners united to create the LGBTQ–Two-Spirit workgroup in order to advance the equality, health status, and well-being of all LGBTQ–Two-Spirit American Indian/Alaska Native individuals (AI/AN), their families, and their communities.
The mission of IHS is to raise the physical, mental, social, and spiritual health of all AI/ANs to the highest level, and our goal is to ensure that comprehensive, culturally acceptable personal and public health services are available and accessible. The LGBTQ-Two- Spirit population has unique healthcare needs, is at greater risk for multiple health threats, and often experiences low quality care due to a variety of factors, including discrimination. All people should receive health services that are formulated to address their particular circumstances and meet their individual needs..
Diné Equality
We envision the Navajo Nation as a safe, supportive & inclusive home for our gay, lesbian, bisexual, two-spirit & transgender family members.
Diné Equality is guided by four visionary pillars: Sovereignty, Community, Family, & Traditional Knowledge. We believe in strengthening the sovereignty of our Nation while working with communities to advance LGBTQ+ equality. Our roles and presence strengthen our families while traditional knowledge reaffirms the sacredness of our identities.
In 2005, the Navajo Nation Council passed the unjust Diné Marriage Act; a codified law of discrimination that divided our people & created deep community disharmony. We are now working to repeal this once & for all. We are now pushing forward LGBTQ+ tribal legislation that would impact Indian Country.
Long before Stonewall, our Sovereign Nations revered & honored our gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer & two-spirit family members. Diné teachings clearly share this history & affirm the sacred roles many of us continue to hold today.
We are resilient. Together with our families and through compassion, a greater Navajo Nation will come to be.
Ahéheé for your support. Let's get to work.
"We are warriors who wage good warfare by combating alcoholism/addiction, violence and hunger. " Written by our Founder Red Corn Gary Maloney
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