Two-Spirit and Indigenous LGBTQQIA+ Celebration and Awareness Day
Since 2021 the Two-Spirit team at CBRC has been advocating for the creation and recognition of an annual Two-Spirit and Indigenous LGBTQQIA+ Celebration and Awareness Day, celebrating the radiance and diversity of Two-Spirit identities, expression, and experience across Turtle Island.
We will be celebrating Two-Spirit and Indigenous LGBTQQIA+ Celebration and Awareness Day with an afternoon of speeches, activities, and workshops on Friday, March 21 at The Birdhouse (44 W 4th Ave., Vancouver), on the unceded traditional territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.
The theme of our celebration is “Access,” and with it we hope to highlight the many ways in which access (to healthcare, to culture, and to ceremony) is essential to Two-Spirit and Indigenous queer and trans people.
Under the guidance of Elder Sheila Nyman and led by Two-Spirit Research Coordinator Jaylene McRae - in collaboration with Evan Matchett-Wong from the Health Initiative for Men - the afternoon will feature:
an Opening Ceremony, speeches from community activists and city officials, and
arts-based research activities and discussions (from 1 PM to 6 PM)
The arts-based activities will aim to deepen our understanding of the unique experiences and needs of 2SLGBTQIA+ survivors of gender-based violence (GBV), a group often overlooked in broader GBV research. Indigenous and non-Indigenous individuals are invited to participate.
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 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.
When: 1-6 pm Friday March 21, 2025 | Two-Spirit Dance Party, 9 PM - 2 AM
Where: The Birdhouse, 44 W 4th Ave., Vancouver
Information: https://www.cbrc.net/two_spirit_and_indigenous_lgbtqqia_celebration_and_awareness_day
Questions? Please e-mail martin.morberg@cbrc.net or jaylene.mcrae@cbrc.net