#25: LGBTQI*2S

#25: When discussing LGBTQI issues, always include two-spirited peoples (LGBTQI*2S). 

What a great day for this post, it's Pride in Fort McMurray. We attended to celebrated, as allies, the positive stance against discrimination and violence toward lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and two-spirited (LGBTQI*2S) people. The ultimate goal of events similar to today's gathering is to promote equal rights, increase visibility, build community, and celebrate sexual diversity and gender variance.  

Much evidence indicates that many Indigenous societies, prior to colonization, believed in the existence of cross-gender roles, the male-female, the female-male, what is now considered a two-spirited individual. The duality is one that is encouraged and revered. Today, the "Two Spirit identity is about circling back to where we belong, reclaiming, reinventing and redefining our beginnings, our roots, our communities, our support systems and our collective and individual selves” (Alex Wilson). 

While I believe the Pride celebrations have done a wonderful job of bringing attention to LGBTQI*2S issues, we can always do better and ensure that our everyday rhetoric is considerate and inclusive. So I ask you to be inclusive of two-spirited individuals when referring to LGBTQI*2S. Here are some other tips for practicing allyship:

• Educate yourself on the experiences and perspectives of Two Spirit people.
• Identify relevant resources out there and be ready to  refer someone in need. 
• Reflect stereotypes and assumptions you hold on LGBTQI and Indigenous peoples
• Know how to intervene when racism, homophobia, biphobia and transphobia happen.
• Remember the *2S

For more information about how you can support the human rights of all LGBTQI*2S people, especially those who are marginalized and systemically oppressed, please visit Egale Canada Human Rights Trust. Their vision is a Canada, and ultimately a world, without homophobia, biphobia, transphobia and all other forms of oppression so that every person can achieve their full potential, free from hatred and bias.