Two-Spirit is a contemporary umbrella term used by some Indigenous people in North America. It can hold gender, sexuality, community role, and cultural connection at once. That is why it should not be treated as a new synonym for nonbinary, queer, or LGBTQ+.
The short version
- Two-Spirit is for Indigenous people. It is not a label for non-Indigenous people to adopt.
- Its meaning is not identical across Native nations, families, or individuals.
- The respectful move is to use the words a person uses for themself and let them lead the conversation.
People often see "2S" added to LGBTQIA+ and want a quick definition. A quick definition helps, but it can also flatten something that is deliberately bigger than a single gender or orientation label. If you are making room for someone in your life, start with respect rather than trying to sort them into a box.
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$0.00What Two-Spirit means
Short answer
Two-Spirit is a modern umbrella term created by Indigenous people for Indigenous people. Some people use it alongside labels such as lesbian, gay, bi, trans, or nonbinary. Others use a nation-specific word or a different label entirely. The person using it gets to define what it means in their life.
The term came into wider use at an Indigenous lesbian and gay gathering in Winnipeg in 1990. It is often connected to the Anishinaabemowin phrase niizh manidoowag. That history matters because Two-Spirit did not appear as a marketing-friendly extra letter. It was a way for Indigenous people to name identity, culture, and community on their own terms.
Before 1990
Many Indigenous nations held their own words, teachings, and roles around gender and sexuality. Those traditions are not one shared system.
1990
The modern umbrella term Two-Spirit was introduced at an Indigenous gathering near Winnipeg.
Now
Some Indigenous people use Two-Spirit, some prefer a nation-specific term, and some use other LGBTQ+ language. All of those choices deserve room.
It is also worth being precise about what the term does not promise. It does not mean every Indigenous community used the same role or has the same teachings. The Indian Health Service notes that communities have their own languages and understandings, and that a pan-Indigenous label should not replace them.
A respectful conversation leaves space for the person in front of you, not a script you brought with you.
Why it is not interchangeable with nonbinary
Nonbinary describes gender outside the man-or-woman binary. Two-Spirit can include gender, but it is also tied to Indigenous identity and relationship to community. A non-Indigenous nonbinary person is not Two-Spirit. An Indigenous Two-Spirit person may or may not also call themself nonbinary.
| Two-Spirit | Nonbinary | |
|---|---|---|
| Who may use it | Indigenous people who choose the term | People of any background who identify outside the gender binary |
| What it can hold | Identity, culture, community, and sometimes spirituality | Gender identity |
| Respectful approach | Follow the person's own language and nation-specific context | Use the name and pronouns the person shares |
This distinction is not a trivia test. It is how you avoid turning Indigenous identity into a costume or a catch-all. The same care applies to broader LGBTQ+ language. Our plain guide to gender-neutral language can help with everyday wording, but it cannot tell you which identity a person should claim.
Do this
Say "Two-Spirit people" when discussing the term broadly, and use someone's own words when speaking about them.
Not this
Use Two-Spirit as a fashionable substitute for every gender-diverse person, or assume it means the same thing in every nation.
How to be respectful in real life
You do not need a flawless vocabulary lesson before you can be decent. You need curiosity with boundaries. If a friend, coworker, or family member says they are Two-Spirit, believe them. Use the name and pronouns they give you. Do not ask them to teach you their nation's history on demand, and do not treat personal questions as an admission price for respect.
| 1 | Listen to the label they use.Two-Spirit, 2S, trans, queer, nonbinary, and nation-specific words are not interchangeable. Follow their lead. |
| 2 | Keep your questions practical.Ask what name or pronouns to use, or how you can show up well. Skip questions about bodies, ceremonies, or identity "proof." |
| 3 | Learn from Indigenous-led sources.Read and share work by Indigenous organizations and writers instead of relying on a simplified social post. |
Visible welcome still matters when it is paired with behavior. A flag in a shared space can tell people they are less likely to walk into a hostile room. The ally flag at home is one small example. It is not a substitute for listening, correcting disrespect, or honoring privacy.
A welcoming sign works best when the room behind it is willing to listen.
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Common questions about Two-Spirit
Can anyone identify as Two-Spirit?
No. Two-Spirit is an Indigenous term for Indigenous people who choose to use it. Non-Indigenous people can support Two-Spirit people without adopting the label.
Does Two-Spirit mean nonbinary?
Not exactly. Some Two-Spirit people may also identify as nonbinary, but Two-Spirit can include cultural and community meaning that nonbinary does not carry.
What does 2S mean in LGBTQIA+?
2S is a common abbreviation for Two-Spirit. Its placement recognizes Indigenous people and the distinct cultural context of the term.
What should I say if I am unsure which term someone prefers?
Ask simply and privately which language feels right for you. Then use the answer without making the person defend it.
Where this comes from
- Indian Health Service, Two-Spirit, consulted for its overview of the diversity of Indigenous community terms.
- National Indigenous Women's Resource Center, Pride for Two-Spirit and LGBTQ+ Community, consulted for the 1990 gathering context.
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