LGBT History Month – Yirka-Laul

February 27, 2018

February is LGBT History Month and the SWBH LGBT Staff Network and the Trust wanted to take the opportunity to share an insight into the Geography of LGBT History looking at the gender diversity through time and cultures.

Today we highlight Yirka-Laul: Among the 19th century Chuckchi of Siberia, people who were assigned male at birth but displayed “feminine” behaviour were considered to be third gender shamans. They adopted “feminine” hairstyles, then “female” clothes, and finally married men. They were hated, scorned, and also feared by the rest of the Chuckchi, as they were considered to be much more powerful than other shamans.

#LGBTHistory – Claiming our past, celebrating our present and creating our future.