Rowan Jette Knox, a Canadian author previously identified as a straight woman, then non-binary, and later a transgender man, announced last month that he now identifies as two-spirit. Knox, 50, shared this latest identity shift on social media, citing a desire to connect with his Indigenous heritage.

Knox, who was previously known as Amanda Jette Knox, stated on Threads that he has been actively connecting with his Indigenous father's culture, which he had lost contact with in infancy. He indicated that intergenerational trauma played a significant role in his disconnection from his roots. "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," Knox wrote. He added, "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."

According to the Ojibwe People's Dictionary, the phrase "niminwendam waabaminaan," which Knox used, is from the Algonquian Indigenous language and roughly translates to "I am happy to see you."

Knox, a writer and coffee shop owner from Toronto, also acknowledged that his reconnection with his Indigenous identity is influenced by his perception of "colonialism" and "intergenerational trauma." He expressed a responsibility to learn the teachings now, despite wishing he had done so sooner.

The term two-spirit is incorporated into the 2SLGBTQIA+ acronym used in Canada.

Previously, Knox underwent a double mastectomy in October of last year after beginning testosterone therapy in 2023. He has shared his experiences with male hormones and the resulting changes in his voice. Knox had previously stated he felt he was "born in the wrong body."

Knox's family has also undergone significant identity shifts. His husband, previously known as Mark, came out as a transgender woman named Zoe in July 2015, after 19 years of marriage. Their child, Alexis, revealed she was transgender in early 2014 when she was 11 years old.

At one point, Knox, his husband Zoe, and their partners Dani and Dame, all transgender women, lived together in Toronto in what was described as a four-way open relationship or 'polycule'. This arrangement has since ended, with Knox now in a separate relationship with his girlfriend Dani. Knox and Dani also appear to co-own a coffee shop.

Alexis, who is biologically male, came out as a transgender girl to her parents via email in February 2014. Alexis and Rowan participated in a Microsoft video series called "My 24 Hrs," where Alexis discussed the fear and acceptance surrounding coming out to his parents, noting the supportive environment of their home and the absence of enforced gender roles.