Call 988 and press 4 for the Native and Strong Lifeline, available 24/7.
Before colonization, Two-Spirit and LGBTQIA+ people were accepted, supported and honored in most tribes. Many Two-Spirit people held sacred or ceremonial roles such as counselors, healers, pipe carriers or visionaries. Others were great warriors, dreamers, medicine people or spiritual advisors.
Two-Spirit and LGBTQIA+ people have existed far longer than the modern-day, generalized labels. The term “Two-Spirit” reflects hundreds of diverse identities related to gender and sexuality within Indigenous cultures—it’s also a synonym for hundreds of words and phrases used in tribal languages for these identities. And now, Two-Spirit people are reclaiming these identities and reviving these roles.
Two-Spirit individuals know best what being Two-Spirit means to them. Some Two-Spirit people also use the words gay, lesbian, bisexual or trans to describe their sexual orientation or gender—while others, do not. But being Two-Spirit is not the same as being gay or trans—it’s a way of reclaiming Native community roles and reconnecting with traditional values, responsibilities, and life ways that have existed for millennia.Watch this YouTube video, Two-Spirit Identities Explained, to learn more.
Two-Spirit and LGBTQIA+ people can face discrimination or abuse. Strong and accepting relationships with friends, relatives, tribes and communities help protect them. Being there means listening, learning, and standing up for your 2SLGBTQIA+ relatives.
Two-Spirit people can gain strength by talking with family and community members about their identity in a supportive environment. By feeling comfortable with who they are, they build resilience.
Advocate that schools are safe for gender-diverse and sexually-diverse people. Help make sure health care providers who serve Native people are trained in gender diversity and that 2SLGBTQIA+ people have fair access to safe housing and restrooms.
Engage in positive practices alongside your friend or relative. Learning and educating others about traditional Two-Spiritroles in our cultures helps erase stigma.
Native & Strong Lifeline
If you’re thinking about suicide or struggling emotionally or mentally, talk with a friend or relative, or call the Native & Strong Lifeline:
Finding support for houselessness, unemployment, and other hardships can improve your mental health. The Native Resource Hub can help you find housing, food, utility assistance or other resources, including cultural resources.
The following assets were developed to help partners and community members across Washington share information about the Native & Strong campaign. Download rack cards, posters, social media graphics, and outreach resources to promote the Native & Strong Lifeline and help connect people to culturally grounded mental health support.
