Two-Spirit and Indigenous LGBTQQIA+ Celebration and Awareness Day 2025: A Call for Greater “Access” to Healthcare, Culture, and Ceremony on March 20, 2025, and Vancouver Event on March 21, 2025
For the fourth consecutive year, the Two-Spirit Program at Community-Based Research Centre (CBRC) is calling upon our relations, government officials, policy makers, hereditary leaders and allies across Turtle Island to declare Thursday, March 20, 2025—the spring equinox—as Two-Spirit and Indigenous LGBTQQIA+ Celebration and Awareness Day in Canada.
“Last year, proclamations and activities were held in seven cities and communities,” said Martin Morberg, Two-Spirit Program Manager at CBRC. “We can’t wait to see what our relatives have planned for 2025. This day is vital for raising awareness and educating the public on Two-Spirit resurgence through demonstrations, proclamations, and community celebrations. We hope everyone will join us in recognizing the significance of this day.”
Conceived by First Nations Cree scholar and community organizer Harlan Pruden, and advocated for by members of the Two-Spirit community, Two-Spirit and Indigenous LGBTQQIA+ Celebration and Awareness Day is an annual celebration of the radiance and diversity of Two-Spirit identities, expression and experience. Held in alignment with the spring equinox each year, the celebration is intended for all Two-Spirit and Indigenous queer and trans people, as well as allies, families, and friends.
VANCOUVER EVENT: MARCH 21
To celebrate, the Two-Spirit Program at CBRC will host an afternoon of activities on Friday, March 21, 2025, in Vancouver, located on the territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations. Events will take place at The Birdhouse (44 W 4th Ave.) and include an Opening Ceremony, speeches from community activists and city officials, and arts-based research activities and discussions.
“The theme of our celebration is Access,” said Jaylene McRae, Two-Spirit Research Coordinator at CBRC. “Access is crucial for Two-Spirit and Indigenous queer and trans folks who continue to face significant health disparities driven by systemic racism, transphobia, homophobia, and discrimination. We deserve equitable access to healthcare, culture, and ceremony—resources too often denied due to colonial systems and their legacies. Our voices must be included in all Indigenous inquiries and calls to action.”
“Access” is a cornerstone of the Two-Spirit Program’s work and the key to creating pathways for essential resources and fostering meaningful engagement for all members of our community. “Funding bodies must support equitable access for Two-Spirit-led initiatives, and allyship must prioritize inclusion,” said Morberg. “All Two-Spirit and Indigenous queer and trans people deserve access to their communities, gatherings, medicine, and cultural practices.”
This year’s celebration will also focus on addressing gender-based violence—a critical issue that disproportionately impacts Two-Spirit and queer and trans Indigenous peoples. “Two-Spirit and Indigenous queer and trans folks exist outside of the binary, and too often our people are excluded from discussions on gender-based violence,” said McRae. “Exclusion from traditional healing practices within Indigenous communities also reflects this violence. This kind of lateral harm, rooted in historical oppression and unresolved pain, must be addressed.”
After the Opening Ceremony and speeches from community activists and city officials, participants will engage in an afternoon of arts-based research activities and discussions, led by Elder Sheila Nyman, Jaylene McRae, and Evan Matchett-Wong from the Health Initiative for Men (HIM). The session will focus on deepening understanding of the unique needs of 2S/LGBTQIA+ survivors of gender-based violence. Participants will explore how art can serve as a tool for healing, with activities including painting, drawing, beading, and creating mood boards. This workshop offers a safe, non-verbal space for individuals to express their gender identity and personal experiences—whether they are experienced artists or simply enjoy creative expression. It’s a welcoming, non-judgmental environment where everyone can explore and process their emotions at their own pace. Indigenous and non-Indigenous individuals are encouraged to participate. Activities will take place from 1 PM to 6 PM.
To conclude the day, a Two-Spirit Dance Party (from 9 PM to 2 AM) will be held, hosted by Jaylene Tyme and Ella Lamoreaux. Organized by Two-Spirit community activists and The Birdhouse Collective, the celebration will emphasize social justice and the Two-Spirit and Indigenous LGBTQQIA+ Celebration and Awareness Day initiative. The event will feature community speakers and performances by Two-Spirit, queer, and trans drag artists. Everyone is invited to join in, share, create, dance, and build solidarity with us.
HOST YOUR OWN EVENT
We invite community members and organizations to host their own events in celebration of Two-Spirit and Indigenous LGBTQQIA+ communities. These events can include rallies, public forums, gatherings, or media representation of the historical and contemporary roles Two-Spirit people play in Indigenous self-determination and community care. These spaces are meant to engage the community in knowledge-sharing and reflection on how we move forward together. Community organizers are encouraged to share their events with the Two-Spirit team at CBRC. To connect, please contact [email protected] or [email protected].
ABOUT THE TWO-SPIRIT PROGRAM
The Two-Spirit Program at CBRC is an Indigenous-led initiative supporting the health and wellness of the Two-Spirit and Indigenous LGBTQQIA+ community. Through active and meaningful engagement, the program focuses on reclaiming, empowering, and celebrating Two-Spirit identities while raising awareness and addressing the colonial narratives that contribute to homophobia, transphobia, and stigma. Using the Medicine Wheel model, which represents emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual balance, the program emphasizes the importance of sexuality in overall health and wellness.
ABOUT CBRC
Community-Based Research Centre (CBRC) promotes the health of people of diverse sexualities and genders through research and intervention development. CBRC’s core pillars of community-led research, knowledge exchange, network building, and leadership development position the organization as a thought leader, transforming ideas into actions that make a difference in our communities. CBRC was incorporated in 1999 and is a non-profit charitable organization. Our main office is located in Vancouver, British Columbia; we also have satellite offices located in Edmonton, Toronto, and Halifax.
Media requests:
Christopher DiRaddo
Community-Based Research Centre
514-806-5076
[email protected]
