BARRIERS TO BELONGING: MONTANA’S TWO-SPIRIT AMERICAN INDIANS

Author

Caitlin Jean Copple

Year of Award

2007

Document Type

Professional Paper - Campus Access Only

Degree Type

Master of Arts (MA)

Degree Name

Environmental Science and Natural Resource Journalism

Other Degree Name/Area of Focus

Print Journalism

Department or School/College

School of Journalism

Committee Chair

Dennis Swibold

Committee Co-chair

Denny McAuliffe

Commitee Members

Gyda Swaney

Abstract

This project aims to document the experiences of several LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersexed) American Indians as they create a space for themselves in the gay and Native communities as “two-spirit” people. Like the Creator, LGBTI Native people see themselves as possessing both male and female energies, which made two- spirit” people capable of viewing the world through a wider lens. Through modern reservation and urban perspectives, readers see that, despite the overwhelming tradition of Northwest and Great Basin tribes to recognize or even honor gender variant tribal members, modern two-spirit people confront widespread homophobia from their own people, as well as racism from Montana’s primarily white LGBT community Leading two-spirit anthropologists say they face discrimination in the job market, as well when publishing their work, because of their chosen topic. The final article in this collection explores the barriers facing a white person attempting to report about Native people and discusses the ethical hazards of cross-cultural journalism.

Recommended Citation

Copple, Caitlin Jean, "BARRIERS TO BELONGING: MONTANA’S TWO-SPIRIT AMERICAN INDIANS" (2007). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 12609.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/12609