Are Two Spirit people part of the LGBTQ+ community? [Video]

People who identify as genders outside of the binary have many options when it comes to describing their identity – but if you’re wondering whether the term Two Spirit is meant for you, the first thing to know is that it is a term solely used by native and indigenous people in North America.

Two Spirit people are an essential part of native and indigenous communities but using the term when you are not native or indigenous would be considered cultural appropriation.

Similarly, India for over 2,000 years, has been home to communities of gender non-conforming people and trans women called “hijira”, but you wouldn’t refer to yourself as a hijira unless you were part of that group. They’re even mentioned in the ancient text the Kama Sutra, where they’re referred to as the third sex.

The term was formally adopted in the early nineties but dates back centuries. So what exactly does it mean?