Nonbinary Peoples Day
- 10 hours ago
- 3 min read
July 14th is Nonbinary Peoples Day, observed internationally since 2012.
About the day
July 14th, International Nonbinary Peoples Day, celebrates, recognizes, and uplifts nonbinary people and their experiences worldwide.
Nonbinary Peoples Day was specifically chosen to fall exactly halfway between International Women’s Day and International Men’s Day. It also coincides with Nonbinary Awareness Week, a time to focus on the resilience, rights, and lived experiences of nonbinary people.
Defining nonbinary
Someone who is nonbinary (or non-binary) does not identify exclusively as a man or a woman. The term can be used as an umbrella term, encompassing many different experiences of gender.
In QMUNITY’s Queer Glossary Booklet, the term nonbinary is defined more in depth as “a collection, continuum, or spectrum of gender identities and expressions, often based on the rejection of the gender binary’s assumption that gender is strictly an either/ or option of ‘male/men’ or ‘female/women,’ based on sex assigned at birth.
‘Nonbinary’ can be both a specific term of identification, and/ or an umbrella term. ‘Nonbinary’ is not synonymous with ‘androgyny,’ as there are many different nonbinary experiences and expressions affected by time, culture, and individual perception.”
The Queer Glossary is a free resource available on QMUNITY’s website along with the I <3 My Chest Booklet.
If you’re part of the community, an ally, or curious about gender, sexuality, identity, and inclusive language, check out our online course, Foundations of 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusivity.
Useful facts about nonbinary people
Pronouns? – Never assume you know someone’s pronouns. Nonbinary people may use gendered pronouns such as she/her or he/him, nongendered pronouns like they/them, neopronouns such as xe/xem/xirs, or a combination. Some people also prefer to use no pronouns; in that instance, for example, you would replace “he/him/his” with a name.
Example: HisTaylor’s home is a lovely place; heTaylor has a keen eye for design.
The most respectful way to find out the pronouns someone uses is to simply offer your own in an introduction and ask what their pronouns are.
Gender assumptions – Just like pronouns, it's best to never assume you know someone’s gender identity just by looking at them or when you first meet. It’s a common misconception that nonbinary people present as androgynous. Nonbinary people don’t owe society gender neutrality in the way they look. This guidance also goes for trans people who identify as a man or woman. They don’t need to present as what people perceive as a man or woman to identify as such.
It is safest, for the sake of trans and nonbinary people, to never assume anyone’s gender upon meeting them, and it’s good practice to question if you even need to know.
A fashionable trend – This one has been debunked numerous times! The growing number of people identifying as nonbinary or beyond the identities of man or woman can be attributed to the general acceptance and education about gender identity in recent times. Being nonbinary is not a new concept. The term broadly encompasses this type of identity: a third gender, a nongendered identity, or a fluid gender, all of which have always existed amongst cultures across the globe.
Even though Pride Month has passed, every day can be an opportunity to learn, support, and celebrate the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Happy Nonbinary Peoples Day and Awareness Week!
Resources
QMUNITY Resources
QMUNITY Booklets
Additional Resource on Gender
