Canadian author Rowan Jette Knox, who previously identified as a straight woman before coming out as non-binary and later as a transgender man, has announced that he now identifies as two-spirit.
Knox, formerly known as Amanda Jette Knox, said on social media last month that he has Indigenous heritage and identifies with both masculine and feminine qualities associated with the two-spirit identity.
The 50-year-old made the announcement on Threads, where his changing gender identity was later discussed by Quillette . The Toronto-based writer and coffee shop owner has previously spoken about his family’s experience with gender transition. His son came out as a transgender girl at 11, while his spouse later came out as a transgender woman.
Knox and his spouse, who have since separated, were previously part of a four-person open relationship with two other transgender women. They referred to the group as a “polycule.” The relationship has since ended, with Knox and his former spouse now dating separate transgender women.
Announcing the identity change to his 230,000 followers, Knox wrote: “This week I finally felt ready to claim the two-spirit identity for myself. It’s a BIG step for me at 50 years old.
“I’ve been actively connecting with my lost culture (my Indigenous father left when I was a baby – intergenerational trauma played a big part), learning the stories, reading the history, and giving myself permission to belong.
“So hello. My name is Rowan, and I am trans and two-spirit. Niminwendam waabaminaan.”
The Ojibwe People’s Dictionary identifies “niminwendam waabaminaan” as a phrase from an Algonquian Indigenous language that roughly means “I am happy to see you.”
Knox later acknowledged that he has had limited contact with his Indigenous heritage, attributing that distance to colonialism and what he described as intergenerational trauma.
Rowan Jette Knox, formerly known as Amanda Jette Knox, announced on social media last month that he identifies as Indigenous and two-spirit
Rowan Knox, formerly known as Amanda Jette Knox, is pictured before his transition
In a follow-up post, Knox wrote: “As I reconnect more with my Indigenous roots, I’m getting closer to claiming the two-spirit identity. But culture plays a big part in me feeling comfortable doing so.
“It’s not my fault I didn’t grow up within my culture (I firmly blame colonialism and the intergenerational trauma it caused in my family) but it is my responsibility to lean in and learn the teachings now. I wish I had done it sooner, but it’s never too late.”
Two-spirit is represented by the first two characters in the acronym 2SLGBTQIA+, which is used by many progressive organizations and institutions in Canada.
Earlier this year, Canadian lawmaker Leah Gazan introduced a longer version of the acronym: MMIWG2SLGBTQQIA+.
The letters refer to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit people, as well as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex and asexual communities. The plus sign represents additional identities not specifically listed.
Knox had a double mastectomy in October last year after beginning testosterone treatment in 2023. He later shared photographs of his top-surgery scars.
The activist has also spoken publicly about using testosterone and posted clips demonstrating the lower voice he developed during his transition.
Knox previously said he felt he had been born in the wrong body, adding that it took him years to come to terms with his gender identity.
MORE STORY: VIDEO: Son of Hamas Leader Critically Debates Pro-Hamas Advocate, Leaving Her Speechless – NewsFinale
Knox’s spouse, Zoe, was formerly known as Mark and came out as transgender in July 2015, after 19 years of marriage.
The pair’s daughter Alexis revealed that she was transgender in early 2014 when she was in the sixth grade.
Knox and Zoe also lived with their trans partners Dani and Dame in the same house, Dani and Dame at the time were a couple.
Knox’s Instagram profile page, however, for the last few years has only shown images of himself and Dani. The two appear to also run a coffeeshop together.
Dani, Rowan, Zoe and Dame (from left to right) all lived together in Toronto in a four-way relationship but now appear to have split off into separate couples
He previously shared his delight at realizing he was non-binary before coming out as transgender and told PinkNews: ‘Trans joy is infectious’.
In October of 2023, Knox wrote about first meeting Dani last year after reaching out to her to talk about an experience she had.
According to Knox, the two ‘bonded immediately in a way I rarely do these days’ before deciding they had fallen in love.
Knox says the two then ‘encouraged’ their spouses to get to know one another. Dame and Zoe then also started falling for one another.
Knox and his wife then decided to relocate from their hometown of Ottawa to Toronto in January of this year to start a new life as a four-way couple.
Rowan previously said that he was born in the wrong body, but that it took a long time to come to terms with his true gender
He wrote: ‘It didn’t take long before we all realized that being apart more than we were together was too painful.’
Sadly, the four way couple has since parted ways, but Knox insists he is happier than ever with girlfriend Dani.
Alexis, a biological male, came out to her parents as a transgender girl in February 2014 when she was just 11 years old after sending them an email.
Alexis and Rowan had participated in a video series organized by Microsoft titled My 24 Hrs.
Speaking about the decision to come out on the series, Alexis said: ‘I always have been in a very accepting home. We’ve never forced gender roles.
‘Sending an email was just the easiest way for me because I was pretty scared of what my parents would think. It’s a really hard thing to do when you honestly don’t know.’
The Daily Mail approached Rowan for further comment on his latest move.
NEXT UP: Historic Ocean Liner SS United States Set to Be Sunk Off Florida Within Weeks