Non-Binary People Have Always Existed
International Non-Binary People’s Day, let’s talk about it…
In honor of International Non-Binary People’s Week I wanted to do another awareness photoshoot. Although I do not identify as non-binary, I am a trans man, so I want to be able to be a voice of some sort for the non-binary community as well. They often do not get the respect they deserve, so I hope my photos bring attention to that.
Non-binary people are valid, and always have been. The term “non-binary” describes someone who does not identify as either end of the binary, man or woman. Non-binary folks may identify as being both a man and a woman or as falling completely outside both categories. A lot of non-binary people also identify as transgender, but not all do. There is little to no representation of non-binary people in media, so I wanted to bring some attention to learning a little about the community and all the struggles they face with my work.
This is your reminder that who you are is not up for debate. There is no “right” way to be any gender. You are valid in how YOU want to identify. Non-binary people have always had an issue with people telling them that they aren’t valid, that they won’t respect “they/them” pronouns, to choose “one or the other”, etc. It is not up to someone else to tell a non-binary person who they are. Gender identity is a social construct and always has been. Non-binary people are not a “third gender.” they want to exist outside the binary. They do not fully identify as a man nor do they fully identify as a woman. That doesn’t mean they don’t feel like both, neither, or somewhere in between. You are allowed to be as masculine or as feminine as you want. Being non-binary does not mean you need to express your masculinity and femininity in equal amounts.
Non-binary does not look a certain way. You do not have to prove to anyone that you are non-binary. You just are. It is whatever you want it to be. Non-binary people don’t owe you androgyny. You owe non-binary people respect.
PRONOUNS
Appearance does not equal pronouns. Do not assume anyone’s pronouns just because of how they look. You can never tell what someone’s pronouns are by just looking at them. You can ASK. If you’re unsure, just use they/them until you know. Introduce yourself with your own pronouns, put them in your bio, use inclusive language rather than gendered language. Some examples could be “folks”, “y’all” “everyone”, etc.
One thing to note about people who identify as non-binary is that they don’t always go by them/them. Some people use they/them, some people use other pronouns, some people use she/they or he/they. Just ask if you don’t know! People always have an issue with referring to “one person” as they/them but your argument is completely invalid. You already know how to use they/them pronouns and I’m 100% positive you’ve used them before for people. If you don’t know someone’s gender when talking about them, how will you refer to them? Oh right… by using they/them. It’s that simple. If you can refer to someone who’s gender is unknown as they/them, you can do it for someone who identifies as non-binary. Stop using “poor grammar” as an excuse for your transphobia and homophobia.
Non-binary people have always existed. Just because it’s not something that is commonly talked about or shared in media does not mean they don’t exist. Non-binary genders aren’t really a new thing. If you look further back in history, this idea of policing people’s genders and the way they express themselves makes no sense. I mean, men used to wear pink, makeup, heels, and dresses. A lot of cultures also recognize more than two genders which means their gender was never binary to begin with. Some of the earliest written records actually contain references to people who were neither male nor female. If you look back in history, defying gender expectations has always been there. It’s not a “new trend.”
I hope this photoshoot and this blog helps someone. Whether it’s someone who may be confused or helps people who are uneducated, understand a bit more. You’re allowed to be uneducated about the topic, specially if you’ve never been exposed to someone’s who’s non-binary. But it is important that you take the time to learn. Being non-binary is not something that is “uncommon” or “weird” or “different.” It’s completely normal and you’re allowed to identify and go by whatever pronouns make you the most comfortable. Unfortunately, most of the time people are nervous about changing their pronouns because they’re scared of how society will react to them. It’s unfair for non-binary people to be scared to come out due to society’s outdated view of gender expectations. Please share if you have the time and make sure to respect and celebrate non-binary people this week.
