FreetheLGBT Pride Month Fiesta

Day 19: The History of Third, Fourth, and Fifth Gender.

In modern times, "genderqueer" has been adopted as an umbrella term by people who feel they don't quite fit into the gender binary. 

Many prefer to use pronouns like "they" or "them" and some places are even beginning to accept alternative pronouns. For example, Harvard University added options onto their registration form that included the gender-neutral pronouns "ze" or "they".

But they certainly weren't the first to recognize non-binary genders. Multiple traditions existed among the Kanaka Maoli people indigenous to Hawaii. The mahu could be biological males or females inhabiting a sacred gender role somewhere between (or both) masculine and feminine. 

Also, the Incas worshipped the chuqui chinchay, a third-gendered god. As such, third-gender shamans performed sacred rituals to honor them. The shamans wore androgynous clothing as a visible sign of a space between masculine and feminine. 

Among the Sakalavas of Madagaskar, boys perceived to be feminine in appearance were often raised as girls. Like their biological female counterparts, they wore their hair long and in decorative knots, had pierced ears, and wore bracelets around their arms, wrists, and ankles. 

Many Native American cultures help places of honor for people of integrated genders, called two-spirited people. In fact, two-spirited people were recognised in 155 tribes across North America as healers, caregivers, and visionaries. 

And it doesn't always stop at third. Third genders in these cultures (and indeed more recently in mainstream thought) are accepted as being an "other" gender besides male and female, but fourth, fifth, and sixth genders have been documented as well.  

As always, we hope you found this informative.