Pride, Presence, and the Power of Support: Honoring Our 2SLGBTQ+ Relatives
This Pride Month—and every month—we honor the sacredness of being. To be seen, to be loved, to exist fully in one’s truth should never have to be an act of resistance. And yet, in today’s social and political climate, our Two-Spirit, trans, and gender-expansive Indigenous relatives continue to face growing threats to their safety, their autonomy, and their access to care.
At The Raven Collective, we reject the idea that visibility is a revolution. Being who you are—fully and unapologetically—is not rebellion. It is return. Return to balance, to medicine, to relational roles that many of our nations have always recognized.
In countless Indigenous cultures, gender diversity has long been understood, honored, and protected. Before colonial disruptions imposed rigid binaries and heteropatriarchal norms, our people held space for the many ways a spirit could show up in the world. Two-Spirit people were often revered: as healers, caregivers, ceremonial leaders, artists, diplomats, warriors, and bridge-keepers between worlds.
We know this truth because we see it reflected not only in our stories, but in the world around us.
Nature does not conform to rigid lines. Sassafras trees grow leaves of three distinct shapes—on the same branch—each one uniquely adapted, none more “correct” than the other. Clownfish can change sex as part of their social structure, with the dominant male transforming into a female when needed to keep balance in the group. Lyrebirds mimic not just other bird calls but chainsaws, flutes, and entire human-created soundscapes—reminding us that voice and identity can be fluid, relational, and responsive. Even lichens, which appear to be one organism, are in fact a symbiotic community—algae, fungi, and sometimes bacteria living as one.
Fluidity, adaptability, and transformation are not exceptions—they are everywhere. They are part of creation. They are part of us.
And in that same spirit of care and adaptation, we are proud to share a new offering for our 2SLGBTQ+ relatives:
Introducing the 2S-SupportBoat
A Virtual Health Hub for 2SLGBTQ+ Indigenous People and Their Circles of Care
The 2S-SupportBoat is a collaborative project of The Raven Collective and trusted partners, designed to offer accessible, culturally rooted, and comprehensive health resources for:
2SLGBTQ+ Indigenous people, especially those who are trans and gender-expansive
Parents and caregivers of Indigenous 2SLGBTQ+ youth under 18
Clinicians, helpers, and advocates working to support Indigenous 2SLGBTQ+ communities
This virtual hub is grounded in relational accountability, Indigenous knowledge, and up-to-date clinical and community-informed resources. It offers support across multiple dimensions of wellness—including medical care, mental health, traditional medicine, cultural connection, safety planning (both physical and digital), crisis intervention, legal resources, and community-led campaigns and events.
Importantly, the 2S-SupportBoat also offers access to a clinician consult warmline—a lifeline for providers seeking culturally appropriate guidance when supporting Indigenous 2SLGBTQ+ patients.
Many of the resources gathered here cannot be found anywhere else on the internet. Since early 2025, we have witnessed a disturbing retraction of 2SLGBTQ+ health information online—especially materials supporting gender-diverse and trans youth. This hub exists as a counter-current: a living library of knowledge, culture, protection, and care.
Why "Support Boat"?
This project draws its name and purpose from the support boats that accompany canoe families during the Tribal Canoe Journeys. As our relatives paddle ancestral waterways, support boats travel alongside them, providing supplies, checking on safety, offering rest, and helping canoe families continue their journey with strength and dignity.
In many ways, our 2SLGBTQ+ relatives are paddling through perilous waters—navigating systems not built with them in mind, and often actively working against them. The 2S-SupportBoat is our way of saying: You are not alone. We are here. We see you. We will paddle beside you.
A special thanks to all those who poured their hearts, time, and knowledge into this resource. This hub was built from love—by people who care deeply about the safety, wellness, and future of 2SLGBTQ+ Indigenous communities. It is a living testament to the power of collective care, and we are so grateful to each person who helped bring it to life.
Visit the 2S-SupportBoat and Share the Journey
Whether you're seeking support, offering care, or standing in solidarity, we invite you to step into this circle. As Indigenous peoples, we are strongest when we walk—and paddle—together.