Five Facts About Non-binary Identities

Non-Binary Allyship

Non-binary people have existed for as long as recorded history; their gender identity is not a new trend or growing phenomenon but a normal variation in gender across our population. Still today, misconceptions and misinformation about the non-binary community persist; with a growing divide across society, we are seeing ever-rising discrimination towards non-binary people. This is why we need allyship now more than ever - visible and vocal allyship that is ready to educate and call out behaviour. We must all speak up for non-binary people because creating an inclusive and equal world cannot be done without non-binary acceptance too. Everyone deserves to live wholly as they are without fear of discrimination, so here are a few facts about non-binary identities to supplement your tools as an ally.

Identity: Identifying as non-binary isn’t just a ‘recent trend.’ There is sufficient evidence that gender identities beyond cisgender binaries have existed throughout human history and are understood by various cultures around the world.
Traits: You don’t have to display equally feminine and masculine traits to identify as non-binary, nor do you have to be completely removed from either. Different people express their identity in different ways, there is no set behavior to follow.
Pronouns: Not all non-binary people use solely they/them pronouns. Many prefer to keep gendered pronouns as well, e.g, she/they, he/him. This does not make them any less non-binary, and it is important to recognize and respect how they identify and actively use their preferred pronouns.
Visibility: Being non-binary isn’t necessarily a rare occurrence, it just hasn’t been as openly discussed or given visibility historically as it has in recent years. Many current celebrities have come out as non-binary, including Demi Lovato, Sam Smith, Janelle Monae and Jonathan Van Ness.
Society: Non-binary people experience disproportionate mental health challenges in comparison to the cisgender population because of the discrimination they face. The Mental State of the World Report found that 51% of non-binary people are clinically distressed or struggling. By normalizing and accepting the non-binary community, we can create a society in which they feel safer and more protected.