Fa'afafine

Fa'afafine, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

It would be easy to explain that a fa'afafine is a Samoan transvestite, but that would be oversimplifying their position in the Samoan culture.

The Samoans are very conservative, and devoutly Christian, and yet accept the fa'afafine in their communities, sometimes even raising a son as a girl because there are not enough daughters to take care of the women's work.

I'll let you do your own research. This was taken last year at my church's Samoan luau and he had a great time with no shame.