Two Spirit People

Two Spirit People:
American Indian Lesbian Women and Gay Men

Lester B. Brown, Ph.D., Editor

1997, Harrington Park

108 Pages


From the Cover

Two Spirit People is the first-ever look at social science research exploration into the lives of American Indian lesbian women and gay men. Editor Lester B. Brown posits six gender styles in traditional American Indian culture: men and women, not-men and not-women (persons of one biological sex assuming the identity of the opposite sex in some form), and gays and lesbians. He brings together chapters that emphasize American Indian spirituality, present new perspectives, and provide readers with a beginning understanding of the place of lesbian, gay, and bisexual Indians within American Indian culture and within American society. This beginning will help you understand these unique people and the special challenges and multiple prejudices they face.

"A welcome contribution to the literature on sexual roles and identity within American Indian cultures....A MUST READ FOR EDUCATORS, SOCIAL WORKERS, AND OTHER PROVIDERS OF SOCIAL AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES." - Wynne DuBray, Professor, Division of Social Work, California State University

"Contributes to readers' knowledge of important cultural areas that have not been the subject of previous scientific inquiry....Helps us see that family and community acceptance of lesbians and gays is possible...The contributors report cultural nuances that may help with effective interventions....Brown and his associates have made AN EXCEPTIONAL FIRST EFFORT AT UNDERSTANDING A GROUP OF PEOPLE PREVIOUSLY UNSTUDIED." - From the Foreword by Laura Epstein, Professor Emerita, School of Social Service Administration, University of Chicago


Table of Contents

Foreword - Laura Epstein

Preface: Sharing the Gift of Sacred Being - Duane Champagne

Introduction - Lester B. Brown

IDENTITY

Women and Men, Not-Men and Not-Women, Lesbians and Gays: American Indian Gender Style Alternatives - Lester B. Brown

Gender Selection in Two American Indian Tribes - Little Crow, Judy A. Wright, Lester B. Brown

American Indian Lesbians and Gays: An Exploratory Study - Mary Ann Jacobs, Lester B. Brown

SOCIAL SERVICES

Urban Lesbian and Gay American Indian Identity: Implications for Mental Health Service Delivery - Karina L. Walters

That's What They Say: The Implications of American Indian Gay and Lesbian Literature for Social Service Workers - Judy A. Wright, Melodie A. Lopoez, Lora L. Zumwalt

AIDS AND AMERICAN INDIANS

Developing AIDS Services for Native Americans: Rural and Urban Contrasts - Ron Rowell

AIDS Prevention in a Rural American Indian Population: A Collaborative Effort Between Community and Providers - Elizabeth DePoy, Claire Bolduc