1. Gender Identity: “Third Gender” Intersexed: Born with both male and female organs or ambiguous organs - 0.1%-0.2% of live births. • Once individuals are older and have developed a gender identity they may have sex assignment surgery. • However, some choose to remain “third sex” and many countries have adopted X on documents such as passports to acknowledge this.

2. Third Gender • Can also refer to transgendered people (having a gender identity that differs from their biological sex) Biological men who feel more like women and vice versa. • Homosexual: being sexually attracted to people of the same gender.

3. “Third Gender” in Various Cultures • In Western cultures we have historically determined gender through biology but other cultures have a long history of recognizing alternate-gender identities ie African, South Asian, Polynesian North American Aborginal.

4. North American Aboriginal • When western nations colonized North America many aspects of Aboriginal societies, such as recogniition of “two spirited” people were lost. • “Two-spirited” people did have status, acceptance and a role in Aboriginal society. • Canadian Native people have adopted “two-spirited” to refer to “Third Sex” people in their communities.

5. Siwan of North Africa • Expected and encouraged homosexual behaviour amongst unmarried sons until they were in their late teens when they would be expected to marry women.

6. Third Gender ABC News 60 minutes