Fa'afafine

What does it mean to be fa’afafine?

Fa’afafine is a Samoan term that literally means “like a woman”. Fa'afafine is often used to refer to people born male who express feminine gender identities in a range of ways, but is sometimes used more broadly to refer to all people who do not identify with or live according to common understandings of their birth gender. Sometimes the term ‘third sex’ is used.

Similar Pasifika terms include Fakaleiti (Tongan), Akava’ine (Cook Islands Māori), Fiafifine (Niuean) and Vaka sa lewa lewa (Fijian).

The acronym LGBT has been used widely in Western cultures to describe a number of queer identities: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender. A new acronym has been developed by our Pacific Island sisters: MVPFAFF

M – MAHU, Hawaii & Tahiti
V – VAKASALEWALEWA, The Republic of Fiji Islands
P – Papua New Guinea (Sister Girl is also used for the trans community)
F – FA’AFAFINE, Samoa & American Samoa
A – AKAVA’INE, Cook Islands
F – FAKALEITI or LEITI, The Kingdom of Tonga
F – FAKAFIFINE, Niue Island