Reznet

Those who take issue with the concept of Two-Spirit regarding two people of the same gender do not understand what it is to be Two-Spirit. Two-Spirit and Gay are NOT the same thing. A person who is Two-Spirit is a THIRD gender. In other words, not male and not female, regardless of what genitals the person has. So, if you are a man and you are with a Two-Spirit, you are not in a homosexual relationship. The same goes if you are a woman. Many of our Nations were so devastated and brainwashed or forced to convert to Christian-based beliefs that Two-Spirit traditions were mostly or completely lost or forced to go underground. Those who believe that their community never had Two-Spirit people is following colonized beliefs, and I guarantee that if they did the research, they would find out the truth. Even if you speak with Elders and others from Nations where the Two-Spirit tradition is and has always been a strong/central part of their culture, they would likely say there is a difference between gay and Two-Spirit, and that while gay may not be accepted, Two-Spirit is. I have found that many times, when people have a problem with Two-Spirit traditions, there are Elders in their community who do not and recognize/remember the role that Two-Spirit people play and traditionally have played. Think about it: if our Nations value life and believe that we must live in balance with all our relations, that we have responsibilties as caretakers to Mother Earth, that we do not waste or devalue life, then why would we reject Two-Spirit people? It goes against the very nature of our people to reject life and its diversity.

Adam (Nipmuc)

acceptance, exceptance, xceptance, it doesnt; matter, madder how someone spells, Can we all get along as one nation, one people, gay, strait (straight), bi, transgender; All natives are beautiful, peace.

I think the two spirited is great, what is ashamed is Some Native Americans taken white man dogma as if its the Native American way.

what needs to be done is Native Americans needs to spent time with more Mother Earth and less Dogma Jesus white man religion.

White man religion has created wars and death and hate ,racism and genocide of the ancestors.. Native American religion is pure and honest and closer to the great spirit of the ancestors.

Get back to reality.. walk the Native American way and turn your hearts away from the white mans way.

Im so happy for those people. There are so many divorces in this world that 2 find true love is great.

Enough already!! Some of you should be ashamed for what you THINK is right. That is just wrong!!!God did not create us to be with our own gender! And to portray it in a cultural way? Have you no sense of dignity? I was raised doing ceramonies in the family and this definetly was NOT one of them. Some things are better left alone-this is one of them. If I seen this and did not know anything about the Native ways, I would not even want to be a part of any ceramony-What a disgrace! Our Culture should be kept sacred-not inventing to fit your purpose.

There are many good comments here. And there are some that don't deserve to be mentioned again. The one fact that strikes me most is the absence of names. Why? Are those of you who commented afraid someone might know your true feelings? Are you ashamed of how you feel, so you hide behind "anonymous"? As a Native American, I try to walk as one with all people, keeping myself true to the teaching of the elders. But, that was how I was taught. I cannot speak for others, only myself.

Rick Black Elk

Everybody has a gay uncle or cousin remember he was the one playing house and dollies when we were playing war. Gay today isn't like gay 200 years ago. Clinging to the fact that there were gays in all tribes takes it out of context within history. Gays had thee gender role what ever that may have been but that role has lost its place or is trying to find one. Which is true for all genders our roles have totally changed. I think that by trying to attach a traditional backdrop behind homosexual roles is not accurate and provides a false sense of how serious Natives are when it comes to spirituality and ceremony. You cant just make up ceremonies that serve your needs when you need them. Gayness has gone to far in some cases especially in this instance. I respect the fact that these men want to be lovers but dont deface Native culture in your pursuit. White America is watching every move we make and it saddens me to see this mockery of Native culture. Go ahead argue that gayness was accepted back in the day but the time is now and we need to protect what identity we have left. I am sure theres a response for that one but all I can say is go hit a sale on tight jeans somewhere and think about it okay Little Horse keep your soft furs to yourself!

You should all be ashamed of yourselves. Pre-Mission days,white man ways, whatever excuse, I don't care what excuse your going to use, a man doing WHAT with another man. I'll tell you what, its not natural and I think its a nasty and filthy lifestyle. You people got to clean up your act and quit trying to push yourselves on the mainstream of society and quit pushing this on our families. I believe in the don't ask don't tell way of life and we'll get along just fine.

I think acceptance is too slow. I grew up in a traditional navajo family. I knew of gay people in our rural community but no one really talked about whether it was good or bad to be gay or lesbian, they just existed. I think to some extent its still hush,hush now. Sometimes people make fun but they still don't really talk about it productively. Even in my family, we have cousins who are lesbian, everyone knows about it but everyone pretends like their straight. They're neither outcasted or accepted, they just exist. So, how do you educate people when they don't even want to talk about it?

I thought the white people being there was enough, but the tongue cry really did it for me. The feathers and the rainbows are a really bad combination. I just see this as a sort of mockery of what it is to be transgender in any Native culture. The word "two-spirit" is an especially generic one, it is used to create a Pan-Indian word and community for transgender people who happen to be Native. The truth is not all Native American communities are the same and have the same gender roles as each other. If I were to ask what a "two-spirit" is to my parents are grandparents, they would say that person is sick and needs a ceremony because a person has one spirit. It just seems that these people that had their 'marriage' are picking and choosing whatever suits them. Did they ask their parents and grandparents if this was okay? It's not even okay for me to sweat with the opposite sex as a Dine'. The truth is you can't just do these things on behalf of the greater 'gay' community to show that gays are accepted; which obviously happened here which is definitely exploitive of the tribal teachings.
There are rules to everything and they just can't be manipulated those rules to take a pretty picture.

Interesting. Sad & Happy. It breaks my heart to read how my brothers and sisters spew the same hate language as the white man. It makes me sad to see how far, how deep the white man's words has and continues to control many of our brothers and sisters with their Christian ideals, judgment and scorn. But, my heart was also lifted, and my soul cheered and smiled up to the Creator. Our ways are not gone, they were just sleeping, and now they are being awakened. I am Chippewa from North Dakota. I was raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. And, I am a gay man. I may be far removed and culturally cut off from my tribe, but the Creator has not forgotten me - nor has the Creator forgotten my place in the tribe. I speak from beyond the boundaries of the tribe - and because of my skin color, I am viewed by most as the white man. Again, I feel much joy to see my brothers and sisters celebrate their Two Spirit gift. Thank you.

This nonsense about two spirit is garbage. Gays will do and say anything to get society to accept their so called lifestyle as normal. It is not. And to corrupt the ancient Native American culture and heritage by renaming homosexuality as two spirit is irresponsible. There is a man and a woman. These two men and gays and lesbians in general did not come from two men or two women, they came from one man and one woman. That alone should end any argument for gays and lesbians. But no, they have be defiant in every way to say they are gay or lesbian and now the transgendered or cross dressers. It will not stop for them, they want to shove this garbage onto our children and force them to say and think it's ok. It is not ok. I am Native and this two spirit debacle is inexcusable!

Although a two-spirit will always be ridiculed no matter what the individual does, but who cares, the people doing that are battling something within themselves, because the two-spirit have been in existence within our tribes for so long, it is part of the religion and culture, in this day and age, natives have forgotten about their religion, culture and beliefs, that is why they don't fully understand their own person.

I am 56 your old male, I am Native American and proud to say, the creator put them here for a reason and that is for them to be back in the circle of life and there holy place. And these two that went forward with a spiritual wedding is the right way before the white man changed our sacred ways. I wanna say Thank You to these to brave people. The creator has something very powerful in store for these two. I would like to say follow them and you will see where there red road brings them. I know it is time they took there roles back as sacred people. I know for a fact my mother talks of the people of he who acts like a woman, or she who acts like a man. And the people always looked up to them for guidence, fun, and laughter. They were always there for the people int here community! I think it's so great! I know that pre-mission days have changed the peoples opinions. Actually it was forced for us to see the white man ways. But as time changes things are going back to the way they were. And I am saying this to my children and my family! Thank You!

This is the History that i read in books in class. Wow! Thats so great it gives me chills. And to those that appose to this read it look it up in history it's there! In some nations the sat with the elders and the were very spiritual. I can't wait to see more of what they do!

I would like to say Thank You Creator of all Nations! I am so glad that the two-spirited people are finally making a movement! We have been studying about them at the Salish reservation, to my knowledge and the history being taught to us at the collage its finaly great that people are now looking at them as our people and were they belong. I just wished pre-mission days did not happen but they did and we became so ignorant to the fact of them giving advice and helping with there opinions. They are such great people and they have helped me in the right direction of my people. Always remember your family will always have a two-spirited person to guide you and help you. Thank You Creator they are here! Your family isn't a full circle without a two-spirited person in your life.

aside from the focused debate here, i find it fantastic that i am able to remotely witness such a unique and special event; the journalist has captured the images and sounds, composing the ceremony into something a Hindu can witness on the other side of the planet.

do you think that it is right? but who am i to judge!!

let them marry as they wish. good for you two, love is hard to find in this world.

Two Spirited people were outcast in my tribe. Even some who were doing the wedding know this. In fact the man that painted the spine knows this.

This was not pro survival!

Great to see change and acceptance on such an issue in Indian Country and mainstream society!