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Third gender in Papua New Guinea From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Palopa is a term used in Papua New Guinea and the diaspora as a non-heteronormative term for people who may identify in Western nomenclature as either gay, transsexual, or having a third gender role.[1][2][3][4] LGBTQ+ activist Clint Woolly has described how Western terminology is stigmatised by many in Papua New Guinea and argued that indigenous descriptors, such as palopa, should be adopted and adapted.[5] For the Sambian people, the phrase kwolu-aatmwol describes a third gender identity.[5] Terminology is also borrowed from other Pacific communities, for example the term 'sister-girl' from Torres Strait Islanders.[6]
![]() | It has been suggested that this article be merged into LGBT rights in Papua New Guinea. (Discuss) Proposed since June 2024. |
Classification | Gender identity | ||||
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Other terms | |||||
Associated terms | Fakaleiti, Two-spirit, Trans woman, Akava'ine, Māhū | ||||
Demographics | |||||
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The phrase comes from Tok Pisin.[5] It is reportedly a contraction of the name of the singer Jennifer Lopez.[6]
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