The Office of Diversity and Inclusion at the University of Vermont College of Medicine will present the first film in its 2014-15 “Health Equity Series” on Wednesday, October 29, 2014, from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Sullivan Classroom, Medical Education Center room 200, at the College.

Titled “Two Spirits,” the documentary film focuses on the issue of gender diversity, through the journey of Navajo native Fred Martinez. According to PBS.org, the film “interweaves the tragic story of a mother’s loss of her son with a revealing look at the largely unknown history of a time when the world wasn’t simply divided into male and female and many Native American cultures held places of honor for people of integrated genders. Fred Martinez was nádleehí, a male-bodied person with a feminine nature, a special gift according to his ancient Navajo culture. He was one of the youngest hate-crime victims in modern history when he was brutally murdered at 16. ‘Two Spirits’ explores the life and death of this boy who was also a girl, and the essentially spiritual nature of gender.”

The showing of the film, which will be followed by a short discussion, is co-sponsored by the UVM College of Medicine Gender & Sexuality Alliance. For more information, call 802-656-2267.