Living Beyond the Binary: Protecting Pacific Gender Identities

Holly Otto | South Pacific Fellow

Image sourced from Renesis via Wikimedia Commons.

The Pacific has long embraced a spectrum of gender expressions which starkly contrasts Western gender binaries. The fa’afafine of Samoa, meaning ‘in the manner of a woman’, and fakaleiti of Tonga, meaning ‘in the manner of a lady’, offer alternative identities that are deeply woven into the Polynesian social fabric. Though biologically assigned male at birth, a fafa or a leiti adopts traditionally female roles within their communities or express femininity in culturally accepted and meaningful ways.

Despite their long-established traditional roles, fa’afafine and fakaleiti are systematically marginalised by the Western legal systems and Christian values imposed on the Pacific during colonisation. They exist in a dual reality: celebrated within their cultures yet alienated by the legal structures that govern their lives. Modern movements like MVPFAFF+ – Māhū, Vaka sa lewa lewa, Palopa, Fa’afafine, Akava’ine, Fakaleiti, and Fakafifine – spotlight these individuals and catalyse crucial conversations on identity and acceptance. However, achieving genuine change requires legal and policy reforms affirming the historical presence and distinct contributions of gender diverse individuals.

Cultural Identity vs. Colonial Norms

Historically, fa’afafine and fakaleiti have occupied vital and visible roles in Polynesian societies, epitomising a rich ethnographic diversity. These identities are inherently fluid; there is no single trajectory to becoming or living as a fafa or leiti. Some boys are said to embody a feminine spirit from birth or display femininity naturally during childhood, while others may be encouraged by their families to adopt this identity to fulfil specific roles within male-dominated households. Free from the confines of gender binaries, individuals can redefine their relationship with gender roles, expression and sexual orientation.

Fa’afafine and fakaleiti have long been integral members of their communities, contributing to the communalism and mutual support central to Polynesian societies. However, colonial intervention disrupted this harmony. Western norms have perpetuated religiously fuelled discrimination and reinforced foreign binaries as Pacific societal norms. Over time, these external values have reshaped Pasifika perceptions of gender and embedded stigma within communities. For instance, Samoan athlete and broadcaster Leo Tanoi was supported by his family to embrace a fafa lifestyle, but faced physical and verbal abuse from members of the wider community who tried to forcibly reaffirm his masculinity. Without adequate protections, this discrimination can escalate, as evidenced by the homophobically motivated murder of Tongan activist Polikalepo Kefu in 2021.

Colonial legal systems exacerbate these societal challenges by legitimising discrimination. For example, in Tonga, anti-sodomy laws inherited from colonial rule are still weaponised against non-binary individuals. Being denied fundamental rights such as marriage, family recognition, and protection from societal discrimination renders fa’afafine and fakaleiti legally invisible. Phylesha Brown-Acton, executive director of the Charitable Trust F’ine Pasifika, highlights this systemic failure; “It gives people the permission to further treat leiti worse than dogs... Tonga has a Dog Act... There’s absolutely nothing for the leiti,”. In actively excluding fa’afafine and fakaleiti from societal participation, these laws undermine core Pacific communal values. Reforming these colonial relics isn’t just an act of justice – it is essential to reclaiming and realigning Pacific legal systems with the values which underpin their societies.

Fighting For Voice and Visibility: The Power of MVPFAFF+

While globalisation introduced the very Western norms that disrupted Pacific gender diversity, it has also created pathways for resistance and remedy. Despite their size, Pacific nations are deeply engaged with global movements through diasporic ties. It is this global connectivity that has created space for regional communities to articulate and share regionally grounded forms of queer identity.

The Pacific-centric coalition known as MVPFAFF+ is a powerful example of this resistance. While the movement operates in dialogue with global LGBTQIA+ activism and shares a commitment to rights and recognition, MVPFAFF+ is not a Pacific translation of Western frameworks. Rather, it reaffirms Indigenous understandings of identity, grounded in the Pacific’s rich histories of gender fluidity.

MVPFAFF+ challenges Western narratives that frame their categories as the universal standard for non-binary identity. By offering alternative expressions, this movement highlights how Pacific non-heteronormative identities predate Western ideals and claims an authoritative voice for the Pacific in global conversations. This terminology is more than symbolic; it positions Pacific nations as leaders in reimagining gender discourse rather than followers of global norms.

As both a cultural and political movement, MVPFAFF+ amplifies marginalised voices and strengthens regional agency in global debates. However, for this momentum to have a lasting impact, Pacific leaders must take action and solidify it with meaningful reform.

Carving Space and Claiming Rights

The lynchpin of Pacific societies is communalism – a value rooted in interconnectedness and acceptance. This foundational value should support diversity, not suppress it. For Samoa and Tonga, meaningful reform must reflect this collective spirit by legally acknowledging and honouring the historical presence and contributions of fa’afafine and fakaleiti.

Regionally, reforms should include anti-discrimination laws, hate crime protections, and legal gender recognition. Genuine change must also extend beyond legislation. Public policy must actively dismantle societal stigma through inclusive education, affirming healthcare, and community-led awareness campaigns.

Though small island nations surrounded by a vast ocean, Samoa, Tonga, and other Pacific nations hold the power to lead a regional movement that can inspire change beyond their shores. By vocalising their experiences and affirming their people, these nations can not only fight for social and legal visibility within their borders, but challenge the global dominance of Western centric binaries and offer a model for culturally authentic reform. In affirming their own people, the Pacific may go beyond seeking justice – they can reclaim and redefine the concept, and offer it back to the world.

Holly Otto is the South Pacific Fellow for Young Australians in International Affairs (YAIA). She is a recent Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Arts graduate from the University of Queensland, with majors in International Relations and History. Having completed her final semester at the National University of Singapore as a 2024 Westpac Asian Exchange Scholar, she looks forward to commencing work as a Judge’s Associate in 2025. As YAIA's South Pacific Fellow, Holly is eager to continue engaging with this dynamic region, highlighting the importance of Pacific literacy in Australia, and exploring her interests in justice and human rights in plural legal systems.