LGBTQ+ activist
Clint Woolly has pointed out that many people in Papua New Guinea might perceive Western terms like “gay” or “lesbian” as
stigmatizing, and has thus advocated for adopting culturally relevant terms like . Organizations like the
United Territories of Pacific Islanders Alliance have affirmed palopa identity as a legitimate expression of gender diversity that predates colonial influence. Additionally, there are other culturally specific expressions of gender within the country, such as the term , used by the
Simbari people to describe a
third gender identity. In some cases this same word is used to refer to
intersex individuals. == References ==