Official page of the Balancing Factors project
Welcome to the Balancing Factors page on the NativeOUT website. Balancing Factors is a media art & sustainable living contributions project founded by Carrie House and her late brother Conrad House, a well-known Navajo artist. Balancing Factors exists to educate the world about the unique traditional and spiritual paths of Two-Spirit people.
Building Welcoming Circles is the latest educational video created by NativeOUT. This video discusses and defines the coming out process for friends, family and allies of Native LGBTQ/Two-Spirit people.
On June 28th First Nations Radio celebrated LGBT Native Pride with "Two-Spirits" filmmaker Lydia Nibley, Two-Spirited Canadian filmmaker Lorne Olson (film: "Our Place in the Circle"), and Cristoso Apache from the Two Spirit Society of Denver. The Two Spirit Society of Denver are hosting the 21st Annual International Two Spirit Gathering in Estes Park, Colorado on October 7-11, 2009.
First Nations Radio is a KFAI program hosted by Richard Lafortune (National Director of the Two Spirit Press Room), Laura Waterman Wittstock, Rhiana Yazzie, and Wade Keezer. KFAI is a non-commercial FM radio station operating on 90.3 MHz in Minneapolis and 106.7 MHz in St Paul. Click here to listen to the show.
Links from the show:
"Two Spirits" - http://www.twospirits.org
"Our Place in the Circle" - http://www.onf-nfb.gc.ca/eng/collection/film/?id=55983
International Two Spirit Gathering - http://www.intltwospiritgathering.org
Native America Calling
Show: Same-Sex Marriage
Date: February 23, 2004
Link: (Listen in RealAudio…)
Summary (from NAC website): The contentious debate over same sex marriages is blurring the lines between politics and religion. One side quotes Biblical scripture as the basis of their opposition, while the other side points to the fact that it’s a personal decision and protected by civil rights laws. Last week, the city of
Date: December 11, 2001
Link: (Listen in RealAudio…)
Summary (from NAC website): Fear and stereotypes about gay people remain prevalent in our society. Misunderstandings can often paralyze a community. So what then does a parent do when they suspect their child is gay? How do they cope and what can they do to understand their child? What special care do these children need to become healthy functioning adults? And how do Native cultures impact children who are gay? We'll speak to the mother of a gay son as well as her son to find out how they dealt with this issue in their family. Guests include Doreen Yellowbird & Tony Lone Fight.
Email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you know of any Two-Spirit broadcasts not listed above.
Democracy Now Radio Show
Show: Gay Marriage in Native America
Date: May 31, 2005
Link: http://www.archive.org/download/dn2005-0531/dn2005-0531-1_64kb.mp3
Transcript & Other Info: http://i1.democracynow.org/2005/5/31/gay_marriage_in_native_america
Summary (from Democracy Now website): We look at gay marriage legislation in Native America and issues of of tribal sovereignty, cultural tradition, and legal rights. We speak with the president of the Navajo nation and a Cherokee woman who is fighting for legal recognition in the tribal courts.
Native America Calling
Show: Clarifying Marriage
Date: June 8, 2006
Link: NAC doesn't have link to show. Working on getting this info.
Summary (from NAC website): It’s a debate that’s back on the Senate floor for the second time in two years, clarifying what constitutes a marriage? In the past it was widely taken for granted that a marriage was between a man and a woman. But times have changed and today 19 states have constitutional amendments limiting marriage to heterosexual couples. 43 states have statutes prohibiting same-sex unions. Only Massachusetts allows same-sex couples to marry. What are the legal benefits of marriage? How would this constitutional change discriminate against homosexual people? And does this debate belong at the state level or the national political arena? Guests are Kathy Reynolds (Cherokee), Defendant/ Gay Marriage, and Ken Harper (Cherokee), Founding Member/ Bay Area American Indian Two Spirits.
Show: Transgender Natives
Date: January 26, 2006
Link: NAC doesn't have link to show. Working on getting this info.
Summary (from NAC website): Before the arrival of Europeans, “two-spirited” or transgender people played an active role in some tribal communities. Some tribes held them in high esteem because they had special psychic and healing powers. Over the years the role of a transgender has changed in those same tribal communities. Today, transgendered people have a difficult time being accepted by society. They experience violence and living a life of isolation. How does your tribe acknowledge transgender or two-spirited people? Guests are Trudie Jackson (Navajo), Transgender, Ashliana Hawelu (Native Hawaiian, Cherokee), Transgender, and Angel Manuel (Tohono 'O'daham), Transgender.
Email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you know of any Two-Spirit broadcasts not listed above.
Fundraiser
