Historically, many Indigenous American and First Nations cultures across North America not only accepted but deeply respected individuals who embodied diverse sexual orientations and multi-gender roles, often collectively referred to in contemporary contexts as Two-Spirit people. These individuals frequently occupied sacred, specialized societal roles within their tribes, serving as shamans, healers, mediators, keepers of oral traditions, or ceremonial leaders. Their dual-gender or non-conforming identities were widely viewed as a spiritual gift rather than a deviation, and communities integrated them fully into daily economic, social, and spiritual life. While experiences varied significantly across hundreds of distinct tribal nations, European colonization, forced assimilation policies, and the imposition of Christian moral frameworks introduced severe stigma and homophobia into many indigenous communities, overshadowing these long-standing traditions.