Two-Spirit People: Native Americans, LGBT and the struggle for marriage equality

In "Two-Spirit People: Native Americans, LGBT and the struggle for marriage equality," 429Magazine does a quick article about Two Spirit people.

While the article mainly frames issues around LGBT Marriage, it also traces the impact of colonization and points to the "culture war" among modern Native Americans.

Perceptions of homosexuality within the Native American community have changed drastically over time. Prior to colonization, tribal attitudes varied, but LGBT people were often highly esteemed in society.

In traditional Native American culture, males who took on “feminine” qualities were said be “from outside the world” and “spiritually gifted.” They were known as “two-spirit” and often served the role of a spiritual guide, or shah, in society.

Colonialism and the subsequent Christianization of Native Americans greatly impacted how the tribes perceived homosexuality...

Director of the Northeast Two-Spirit Society, a Native American LGBT organization, Harlan Pruden, told 429Magazine, “colonization has had a pervasive effect on Native people,” adding that.“with colonization came the same narrow-minded, stigmatization from Natives against two-spirit people.”

Pruden added that due to colonization, modern Native Americans are in a “culture war,” which separates the Christianized Native Americans who are anti-LGBT and traditionalists who support the two-spirit concept of ancient faith.

Read the full article at 429magazine: "Two-Spirit People: Native Americans, LGBT and the struggle for marriage equality" by Sanders Deionne