This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
"Two Spirits," a documentary about the life and death of Fred Martinez, a Navajo boy with a feminine essence, has its PBS debut on Tuesday (June 14). Martinez was brutally murdered at age 16 in southwest Colorado on June 21, 2001.
Martinez was comfortable with both his male identity, "Fred," and his female one, "Beyoncé," a name he chose in honor of his favorite singer. He felt inspired by the Navajo tradition of "two spirits," which holds there are two additional genders: Male bodies with female spirits and female bodies with male spirits. He also identified as gay.
The documentary was directed by former Salt Lake City resident Lydia Nibley. It airs on KUED at 11 p.m. on Tuesday, one week before the ten-year anniversary of Martinez's death.