Why 2SLGBTQIA+ and not LGBTQ anymore?
By Arijana Palme, BSW, RSW and Carly Fleming, M.Ed., RP
Happy Pride! (this month and every month beyond)
Recently in Canada there has been an important shift in language from LGBTQ+ to 2SLGBTQIA+. We thought you might be curious about why this shift has taken place and what it means. But before diving into our own (un)learning process (facilitated by none other than Google), it is important that we take a moment to recognize the impacts of power and privilege in our own process.
At everwell, we strive to continuously expand our understanding of how therapy plays a role in people’s experiences of themselves, others and within society at large.
We recognize that we hold power in many aspects of our identities and specifically our roles as therapists. Naming and creating space to dismantle this perceived power differential between therapist and client is an important process in our work with clients. We are not the experts on their lives, they are. And this critical lens to power dynamics is exactly how we hope to approach our relationships with different communities in our society.
This is an ongoing process and central to the tenets of an anti-racist and anti-oppressive framework. To learn more about our approach to 2SLGBTQIA+ Affirmative Counselling, click here.
We are not the experts, you are.
You, as in the ones that occupy these spaces and identities.
Black folks are the experts on their lives and experiences of anti-Black racism. Indigenous folks are the experts on their lives and experiences of anti-Indigenous racism. 2SLGBTQIA+, folks are the experts on their lives and the experiences of their own oppression. And the list can go on, with folks that occupy certain identities being the ones that could teach an entire course on the subject matter (if they so desire) while our role as witnesses is to centre different experiences, amplify and believe them!
Why Does the Acronym Evolve so Much?
From GLBT, to LGBTQ+ to now the most commonly accepted acronym of 2SLGBTQIA+, these acronyms reflect the need for more inclusivity and intersectionality in the words and terms that we use with one another. Rather than a singular monolith of ‘the Queer community’, this acronym affirms the validity of sexuality and gender beyond the binary to include as many identities as currently accepted. And, this acronym will naturally shift again soon as a reflection of us all.
What is 2S?
2S refers to Two-Spirit, a term proposed and affirmed by consensus at the 3rd Annual Native American Gay and Lesbian Gathering in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1990.
Please watch this short video about the term Two-Spirit featuring Geo Soctomah Neptune, a Passamaquoddy Two-Spirit individual residing within the colonial borders of Maine. They beautifully lay out the origins of the term and what it means for Indigenous folks who identify with it.
Some quotes to highlight from Geo’s video. This first is a definition from The Two-Spirit Society of Denver:
“Two-spirit refers to another gender role believed to be common among most, if not all, first peoples of Turtle Island (North America), one that had a proper and accepted place within native societies. This acceptance was rooted in the spiritual teachings that say all life is sacred”
“Two-Spirit was an attempt at self-determination across linguistic barriers because the existing language, foreign and imposed violently on the Indigenous peoples of North America, was both offensive and deeply colonial in its gaze”
“It should go without saying, but Two-Spirit is NOT a poetic way for non-Native LGBTQ people to express themselves…It is, however, a sacred tradition among the first peoples of this land we call Turtle Island, that all of its inhabitants should know about and respect”.
Why does 2S Come First Now?
The shift towards bringing 2S to the forefront of the acronym acknowledges the specific oppression of Queer Indigenous folks.
With the brutal history of colonialism on this land, we are beckoned to centre the experiences of those folks most marginalised by our society. In Canada, when discussing sexuality and gender, that means Indigenous folks and specifically those that identify as Two-Spirit themselves.
When we use an anti-colonial lens to think about sexuality and gender, we can see how the power structures and cultural beliefs imposed by colonialism have severely degraded the experience of Two-Spirit folks within their own Nations, and the broader colonial nation of Canada at large. The unlearning of these beliefs and the shifting of policies and structures that maintain power imbalances are some of the goals of centering the voices and experiences of the most marginalised folks within the 2SLGBTQIA+ acronym.
That’s at least, how we have come to understand this shift. Our understanding is naturally limited based on our own lived experiences, but we are committed to continuing this learning and unlearning process and we will make periodic updates to this blog post as needed.
What About the Rest of the Acronym?
2S - Two-Spirit
L - Lesbian
G - Gay
B - Bi-Sexual
T - Trans
Q - Queer or Questioning
I - Intersex
A - Asexual
+- All other identities that have yet to be captured by the acronym, making it clear that all forms of gender and sexuality are valid.
The shift to placing 2S identities at the beginning of the acronym represents an important change in discourse, cultural narrative and anti-colonialism. But a change in the acronym is clearly only a tiny part of the progress required to bring reparation, equality and respect for all in our society. At everwell, we are committed to our own process of unlearning and we welcome the influence and perspectives of all members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
Looking for some support?
At everwell, we proudly embrace an affirmative approach to counselling that adopts a positive view of Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Intersex, Asexual, and all other Queer identities, relationships, and lifestyles. We will work with you to find a therapist who is able to help you with your current struggles at a price point you can afford. To learn more about 2SLGBTQIA+ Therapy, click here.
When you’re ready, we can help.
Book a free 30 minute consultation and let’s talk about it.