two-spirit

1. not comparablelifestyleInvolving two spirits; especially, pertaining to the doctrine of dualism espoused in the so-called Treatise on the Two Spirits in the Dead Sea Scrolls.

   Paul's grasp of the [Holy] Spirit as the sign of the erupting messianic age is at odds with the two-spirit thought of Qumran which never became incompatible with law observance.

   1957, The Harvard Divinity School Bulletin, Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press [for the Harvard Divinity School], →ISSN, →OCLC, page 133

plural two-spirits · alternative two spirit

1. CanadaUSA Native North American bisexual, homosexual, or gender-variant person; especially one belonging to a traditional tribal third-gender, fourth-gender, or transgender cultural category that has a ceremonial role.First known use 1990

   The Lakota, by the way, called their Two-Spirits winkte and wapetokeca which means "people with special powers."

   2006, Walter L[ee] Williams, Toby Johnson, “About the Historical Accuracy of this Novel”, in Two Spirits: A Story of Life with the Navajo, Maple Shade, N.J.: Lethe Press, →ISBN, page 322

   2 more examples

   "The elders will tell you the difference between a gay Indian and a Two-Spirit," he [Joey Criddle] said, underscoring the idea that simply being gay and Indian does not make someone a Two-Spirit.

   2006 October 8, John Leland, “A spirit of belonging, inside and out”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 19 Dec 2024

   The term/identity of two-spirit does not make sense unless it is contextualized within a Native American frame […] Today, most people associate the term with LGBT Natives; however, the work of the two-spirit organizations is more akin with the traditional understanding

   c. 2013, Harlan Pruden, Se-ah-dom Edmo, “Two-spirit People: Sex, Gender & Sexuality in Historic and Contemporary Native America”, in ESIT Weekly, [Olympia, Wash.]: Washington State Department of Children, Youth & Families, published 18 March 2022, archived from the original on 29 Mar 2025, page [2]

   Synonyms: 2, 2S, berdache, hermaphrodite

1. CanadaUSnot comparableOf, pertaining to, or being a two-spirit (noun sense).

   [I]t should come as no surprise that many Native American gay, lesbian, transgender, and other two-spirit people consider the term "berdache" derogatory.

   1997, Sue-Ellen Jacobs, Wesley Thomas, Sabine Lang, “Introduction”, in Sue-Ellen Jacobs, Wesley Thomas, Sabine Lang, editors, Two-spirit People: Native American Gender Identity, Sexuality, and Spirituality, Urbana; Chicago, Ill.: University of Illinois Press, →ISBN, page 4

   3 more examples

   A Hupa two-spirit male told me: / I was real feminine as a child, from as early as I can remember. […] Within the family, Indians believe you can be whatever you choose.

   1996, Walter L[ee] Williams, “Two-spirit Persons: Gender Nonconformity among Native American and Native Hawaiian Youths”, in Ritch C. Savin-Williams, Kenneth M. Cohen, editors, The Lives of Lesbians, Gays, and Bisexuals: Children to Adults, Fort Worth, Tex.; Philadelphia, Pa.: Harcourt Brace College Publishers, →ISBN, part 4 (Cultural and Mental Health Issues), page 421

   In Canada there are now aboriginal (as we are termed in Canadian English) AIDS projects in the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Nova Scotia, due almost entirely to the efforts of two-spirit (gay/lesbian) people.

   1997, Ron Rowell, “Developing AIDS Services for Native Americans: Rural and Urban Contrasts”, in Lester B. Brown, editor, Two Spirit People: American Indian, Lesbian Women and Gay Men, Binghamton, N.Y.; London: Harrington Park Press, →ISBN, page 88

   Instead of seeing two-spirit persons as transsexuals who try to make themselves into "the opposite sex", it is more accurate to understand them as individuals who take on a gender status that is different from both men and women. […] Two-spirit people were respected by native societies not only due to religious attitudes, but also because of practical concerns. […] Two-spirit persons assisted their siblings' children and took care of elderly relatives, and often served as adoptive parents for homeless children.

   2010 October 11, Walter L[ee] Williams, “The ‘two-spirit’ people of indigenous North Americans”, in Alan Rusbridger, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 25 Mar 2025

   Synonyms: two-spirited