back to November 2024 newsletter 
by Liliana Ramos, LMFT

Gender diversity is one of the most important issues of our time, but Native American cultures have been aware of its presence for centuries. We honor National Native American Heritage month by highlighting the “Two-Spirit” community.

The intersection of Native American heritage and transgender or Two-Spirit identities is deeply significant and rooted in cultural history. Many Native American tribes have long recognized and respected gender diversity through what’s known as the "Two-Spirit" identity.

Historically, in many Native American cultures, Two-Spirit people held respected roles in society, often as healers, storytellers, matchmakers, and caretakers. They were seen as embodying a unique balance of both masculine and feminine energies, a concept that some tribes believe grants them special insights or powers. 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.

The arrival of European settlers disrupted these Indigenous views of gender and sexuality. Colonization brought new religious and cultural norms that viewed gender as a binary and imposed restrictions on diverse gender expressions. Despite this, many Two-Spirit individuals continue to reclaim their identities and revitalize traditional understandings, challenging the colonized views of gender, embracing their heritage, and celebrating gender diversity as a meaningful part of their heritage. Among the Lakota, Mohave, Crow, Cheyenne, and others, Two-Spirit people were believed to be lucky in love, and able to bestow this luck on others.

Transgender Native Americans today may identify as Two-Spirit, but not all do, as the term is specific to those who feel it represents their cultural identity. Some trans Native Americans do not identify as Two-Spirit, and instead identify with other terms that align with their specific gender identity within a modern context.

This intersection of trans and Native identity highlights both resilience and a celebration of diversity, encouraging a deeper understanding of gender, spirituality, and identity beyond Western frameworks. Two-Spirit people were often viewed as embodying both masculine and feminine qualities, allowing them a unique role in tribal life as mediators, healers, ceremonial leaders, or caregivers.

Today, attitudes towards transgender people vary within Indigenous communities. While some communities are deeply supportive and affirming, others are still grappling with influences from colonization and the impact of Western views on gender and sexuality. Many Indigenous activists and allies are advocating for acceptance and support for transgender and Two-Spirit individuals, emphasizing respect for traditional values that honor diverse identities.