Kent Lebsock, Harlan Pruden and Kevin VanWanseele were profiled for a piece on the NorthEast Two-Spirit Society in today’s New York Times Metro section. Read about it here.
Here’s a snippet:

The bias that many gay Indians say they have experienced from other Indians is a legacy of the encounter between Indians and white European colonizers, according to Brian J. Gilley, an assistant professor of anthropology at the University of Vermont, who is the author of “Becoming Two-Spirit: Gay Identity and Social Acceptance in Indian Country.”

Historically, in many tribes, individuals who entered into same-sex relationships were considered holy and treated with utmost respect and acceptance, said Dr. Gilley. “Prior to European contact, sexuality was not a determining factor in someone’s identity,” he said. “It was the role in the community. Gender was tied to that role. Who you had sex with was not a concern. The Europeans come, Native American societies are thrust in rapid change, and some societies incorporate European ideals quickly.”

And because the European settlers, influenced in part by their religious beliefs, were largely intolerant of homosexuality, they helped reshape long-held practices among many Indians, Dr. Gilley said.

Congratulations to the leadership of the NorthEast Two-Spirit Society. Special thanks go out to NE2SS member, Othell, for introducing the reporter Dalton Walker to our organization.