by Kelly Rogge
Kansas City Kansas Community College is presenting a November Special Event: Embracing Two-Spirit Traditions this week.
The event is from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18, in the Intercultural Center on the KCKCC campus, 7250 State Ave.
Presented by Crisosto Apache, the film explores the Native American Two-Spirit traditions that embrace gender diversity and have a positive look on the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. In the Native American traditions, the LGBT community is seen as having the gift of both male and female spirits. Transgender individuals are seen as even more sacred because of their physical embodiment.
Apache is a member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe and was born and raised on the reservation, which is located in south central New Mexico. He has a background in education and works with disadvantaged youth. He is now with the Two-Spirit National Cultural Exchange where he volunteers his time conducting educational presentations.
The program is co-hosted by the OQS Diversity Club at KCKCC< the Intercultural Center, the Women’s Resource Center of the Student & Community Resource Center and the Division of Student Service. For more information, call 913-288-7193. Information about the film can also be found at www.pbs.org/independentlens/two-spirits/film.html. Kelly Rogge is the public information supervisor at Kansas City Kansas Community College.