Know Your Rights – Two-Spirit and LGBTQ+ Laws and Justice

This educational video explores the intricate landscape of legal protections for Two-Spirit and LGBTQ+ Native Americans across tribal, state, and federal jurisdictions. Judges, lawyers, and advocates discuss civil rights, same-sex marriage, tribal sovereignty, ancestral teachings, and gender roles in the Native American community. While federal laws like the Indian Civil Rights Act provide baseline protections, and Michigan state law offers robust anti-discrimination protections under the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, tribal nations retain the sovereign authority to expand protections beyond federal and state requirements. Through personal stories and expert analysis, viewers learn to navigate this complex legal terrain, understanding when tribal law applies on reservations, how state law governs off-reservation activities, and how federal protections can bridge both jurisdictions. Know Your Rights showcases how Two-Spirit and LGBTQ+ Native Americans benefit from multiple, overlapping layers of legal protection rooted in both traditional Indigenous values and modern civil rights frameworks.