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Non-binary is a term used to describe people whose gender identity doesn’t fall neatly into the categories of “man” or “woman.” Here’s a breakdown of what that means:
- Gender Identity: This is a person’s internal sense of being male, female, or something else entirely. It’s different from a person’s sex assigned at birth, which is typically based on physical anatomy.
- Non-binary: People who identify as non-binary can feel like they exist somewhere between masculine and feminine, or outside of that spectrum altogether. They may not identify with any gender at all.
Here are some ways non-binary people might describe their gender identity:
- Genderfluid: Their gender identity can change over time.
- Agender: They don’t identify with any particular gender.
- Demigender: They partially identify with one gender, but also feel a sense of being non-binary.
Non-binary people may express their gender in a variety of ways:
- Clothing: They may wear clothing traditionally associated with men, women, or neither.
- Pronouns: They may use pronouns other than “he” or “she,” such as “they/them,” “ze/zir,” or neopronouns.
Here are some key things to remember about non-binary identities:
- Non-binary is not a third gender: It’s an umbrella term for identities that fall outside the binary of man/woman.
- Being non-binary is not a phase: It’s a valid way of being.
- Respect pronouns: If someone tells you their pronouns, use them!
Here are some resources where you can learn more about non-binary identities:
- National Center for Transgender Equality: https://transequality.org/
- The Trevor Project: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/
- GLAAD Media Reference Guide – Transgender: https://glaad.org/reference/transgender/
I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.