I was researching some background information for someone who needed advice and I came across this link; about how back in the 16th Century Native Americans were practising Transvestism. Men and women had a gender choice, not based on their sex, about whether or not they wanted to be men or women. Intriguing.

Have a look at the link - just shows how different societies value different aspects of their sexuality. http://closetprofessor.blogspot.co.uk/2011/08/native-american-transvestites.html

For anyone who watched last nights BBC 4 program "Inside the medieval mind sex" it was intriguing to think about the contrast with church controlled England in the late Middle Ages. Finding out that a blow job on your spouse warranted 7 years of penance from the church in the 1400s (about the same as adultery) and that sodomites would literally be spit roasted in Hell ( after being burnt alive). Sort of brings to mind today's mad mullahs - only back then they were mad bishops.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b009wzw3/Inside_the_Medieval_Mind_Sex/

Audrey xxxx

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b009wzw3/Inside_the_Medieval_Mind_Sex/

Thanks for this post - I actually have a website ( I need to spend more time on) that trys to show people that Two Spirit people have a lot to offer.

The church or should I say most organised religions have a lot to answer for in my mind - trying to homogenise people and drive out difference.

But I believe the ways of Two Spirit people and the way tribes accepted if not held them up some times, is the way our society should be - appreciate difference and embrace it.

Anyway your friend may find something interesting on my dusty website http://www.twospirit.co.uk its all my own work and opinion and like I say I need to spend time updating it.

Thanks for the post though xxx
This post was edited by Deleted Member at April 25, 2012 9:41 AM BST

Dee Dee

One way to galvanise you into action may be to post parts of it here as a blog and share your views with some of the other girls here

Audrey xxxx

not a bad idea thank you. xxx

L-I-K-E! Especially as I'm 1/8 Cherokee from North Carolina.

I thought you might like it Vallin

Audrey xxx

thank you

wow thats so interesting thanx auntie audrey hugs xxxx

Back before the Internet c1980 I worked for a large American corporate and was sent to head office to imbibe the culture. While there I found a store which specialised in selling modern Native American items. I was fascinated and visited the store quite a bit. Well one quiet afternoon I spent time talking to the Native American who ran the store.
We talked about the genocide and hatred they had suffered and how they had often helped the new comers. We then got onto their 'religion' and how they thought more about people's well being rather than conforming. At the time I knew about gays but little about TVs (and only found out about myself much later) and was surprised when he tried to explain that BOTH could be accepted in the tribe and that being one didn't mean you were the other. Talk about eye opening! We then went on to their relationship with natural resources. I could have listened for hours. He didn't judge us but if anything felt sorry for us. They had been living like this for as long as the stories told and that was a long time. His take on life was to live it as you wanted to as you will give more goodness back to others that way.
I should point out that the store was in San Francisco, then the burgeoning gay capital of the USA. Also he felt really sad for the gay community and I think I understand why now 30 years later. Why can't we all live in harmony!

Wow amazing thanks for the link

Thanks for this forum Audrey and thank you Josephine.
It just goes to show that our perceptions are shaped and modeled by the prevailing moods or mores of the culture that we are born into.

The wonderful and invigorating thing is that, as we grow up and learn and become, the oppressive cultural imperative can be shed, like an old skin.
From a grub to a butterfly ?

Nicky XXxxxoooOOoooxxxXX