LGBT References in Native American Cultures

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In this image, an LGBT "Two-Spirit" individual is the leader of a religious ceremony
Halfway across the globe, the culture of Native Americans was very diverse, with many tribes and cultures each with their distinct mythology. Yet many tribal myths referenced various types of sexualities within their myths and stories, usually in trickster stories involving a wily character who fools individuals. Within the myth of the Arapaho tribe, “Nih’an’can, the Arapaho trickster pretended to be a woman, married the Mountain-Lion, and deceived him by giving birth to a false child,” and a similar theme is visible in a Winnebago myth, in which “Wakdjungkaga, in a scheme with his companions Fox, Jay, and Nit to survive the winter, “marries” a man” and “provides him with three sons” (Ballinger 30). While depicting homosexuality, these are also references to bisexuality, as many of these tricksters also had numerous sexual encounters with women (Ballinger 30). The existence of such myths complements the fact that LGBT sexuality was prevalent in many Native American cultures, which “defined genders in terms of occupational propensity and behavior rather than sexual choices or biology” so that “Native American traditions often recognized not only male and female but also Two-Spirit womanly males and Two-Spirit manly women as genders” which were based on individual choice, on how the person wanted to live (Ballinger 30). Two Spirit individuals were occasionally revered and were important parts of the tribe, if they married someone of the same biological gender, there was no stigma attached to it. In fact, “these Two-Spirit people were respected for their artistic natures, their hard work and generosity” and were “frequently honored for their spirituality” (Ballinger 30).

Sexuality beyond exclusive opposite-sex interaction has been prevalent in the mythology and culture of many Native American tribes, where it was not seen as demeaning, but rather something to be respected. LGBT individuals were important people in the community; they were revered and were believed to have special abilities. These individuals would be significant in enriching culture and tradition, serving as shamans and creating tolerance and acceptance that would be infused within the traditions and mythology of Native American tribes to create unique belief systems. This further proves how universal the existence of LGBT sexuality really is: from the Greco-Roman world to the Native American cultures halfway around the globe, while affecting the culture and mythology of each society in a unique manner.