Volume 3 Issue 3
September 2014
Kanaweyimik’s Counselling Corner
The Kanaweyimik Communicator
Good Day All! In this issue we are going to discuss the LGBTQ Community. LGBTQ is the acronym for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, or Questioning. The Q also sometimes stands for Queer. Lesbian, gay,
bisexual and questioning are sexual orientations. Transgender is a gender identity. We will discuss common terms used among the LGBTQ population, one of which can be Two-Spirited. Research suggests
about one in every 10 people is LGBTQ (KHP, 2014). This means we are all affected by people who identify
as LGBTQ and having an understanding of this topic is essential to help those around us and stop discrimination, prejudice and judgments about people we don’t understand. If you don’t understand someone or
something ask some questions. You may just learn a few things.
The LGBTQ Community
Although lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and Questioning/Queer (LGBTQ)
people are as diverse as the Canadian
population in their experiences of mental health and well-being, they face
higher risks for some mental health issues due to the effects of prejudicial
treatment and the social determinants
of health (CMHA 2014).The social determinants of health are the conditions in
which people are born, grow, live, work
and age. These conditions are created by
the distribution of money, power and
resources in society (WHO, 2014).
Claiming someone's
relationship is
against your beliefs
doesn't make sense.
Relationships are
personal & beliefs
shouldn't be
imposed on others.
P a g e
2
K a n a w e y i mi k ’s
C o u n s e l l i n g
C o r n e r
Some Terms to Know
Sexual orientation refers to whether someone is attracted to males, females, or both. A heterosexual relationship is between a male and a female, while a homosexual relationship is between a
female and another female, or a male and another male.
Gender identity is how someone feels on
the inside like a girl or a boy regardless of
how they look on the outside.
The letters LGBTQ stand for the following:
L – Lesbian refers to women who are attracted to other women.
G – Gay refers to men who are attracted to other men, but some women who are lesbians also
refer to themselves as gay.
B – Bisexual people are attracted to both men and women
T – Transgender or Trans refers to people who feel like they were born into the wrong body. This
means that if they are born with the body of a girl, they might actually feel like a boy on the inside
or vice versa.
Q – Questioning refers to people who feel unsure about their sexual orientation. They may describe themselves as “questioning”.
The “Q” can also refer to people who call themselves Queer or gender queer. PFLAG (2014) states
queer is an umbrella term. It includes anyone who
a) wants to identify as queer
b) who feels somehow outside of the societal norms in regards to gender or sexuality.
V o l u m e
3
I s s u e
3
P a g e
Two Spirited People
Not all First Nations people who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Questioning or Queer (LGBTQ)
identify as two-spirited or two-spirit people. For people who do identify as being two-spirited,
this is not just another word for LGBTQ. It is a new term that has been chosen to reflect traditional First Nations gender diversity. Traditional First Nations gender diversity refers to the shifting nature of sexual and gender identity and its reciprocal connection with spirituality and First
Nations traditional world views (NAHO, 2014).
For some two-spirited people the term represents their unique experiences and culture as First
Nations people who have experienced the loss of their own traditions through colonization. Being
two-spirited can also refer to having both feminine and masculine spirits within one person.
When someone calls themselves Two-spirited they recognize gender as a continuum which includes identity, sexual orientation and social roles (NAFC, 2008). An individual may identify as
two-spirited because of their sexual orientation, sexual or gender identity or roles (NAHO, 2014).
The National Association of Friendship Centres (2008) explains that the term Two Spirited is a
fairly new term which was created in 1990 at a Winnipeg conference of Aboriginal gay and lesbian
people. Two Spirited people, however, are not new. For centuries, they have formed a vital and,
often respected, part of many Aboriginal cultures across North America. Unfortunately, the positive perspective of Two Spirited people has not withstood Colonization where Christian religions
enforced a negative shift in the attitudes towards Two Spirited people within Aboriginal communities (NAHO 2008). Traditionally Two spirited people were looked at from a position of respect
and acceptance. Of the 240 Aboriginal languages spoken in North America, at least 168 have historically included terms to describe Two Spirited people and these terms were seen in a positive
nature (NAFC, 2008)
Unlike western cultures that have consistently and stridently enforced binary sexual identity and
roles, Aboriginal cultures tended to absorb and celebrate what was regarded as a natural and universal phenomenon, integrating sexual diversity within their cultures and ensuring their ongoing
productivity and value (NAFC, 2008). Next time you are judging someone who is Two-Spirited/
LGBTQ ask yourself why you are feeding into the negative cycle colonization created. Reclaim
your history as a First Nations person and be proud of
your heritage. First Nations Culture is a beautiful and
understanding culture and each First Nations person
should be proud.
3
When people use words like
"your gay" as an insult, this is
mean because it implies there
is something wrong with being LGBTQ, when there isn’t.
If you hear these words being
used as put-downs, recognize
that it’s bullying and it’s not
okay.
Works Consulted
KidsHelpPhone (KHP). March 2014. Accessed September 2, 2014
from http://www.kidshelpphone.ca/Kids/InfoBooth/Being-Me/LGBTQ/What-does-LGBTQ-mean.aspx
NAFC, 2008. National Association of Friendship Centres. Accessed September 2, 2014
from http://mail.nafc.ca/PDF/Two%20Spirited%20Report_E_FINAL-FINAL-NEW.pdf
NAHO, 2014. Two Spirited People. Accessed September 2, 2014
from http://www.naho.ca/documents/fnc/english/2012_04_%20Guidebook_Suicide_Prevention.pdf
PFLAG 2014 . Accessed September 2, 2014 from http://community.pflag.org/abouttheq
WHO, 2014. World Health Organization Accessed September 2, 2014 from http://www.who.int/social_determinants/en/