Non-Binary People's Day

I have some thoughts.

Non binary doesn’t automatically mean androgynous.

Non binary people do not all desire surgical or hormonal interventions. 

Visual description: A pie chart titled Do non-binary people exist? There is a circle with four equal quadrants, in black, yellow, purple, yellow and white. The key lists yellow as “yes” white as “yes but in white” purple as “yes but in purple” and black as “yes but in black”.

When someone tells you who they are, do them a solid and believe them.

While it is not a phase, being non binary can be a stage that a person wholly inhabits. Gender and sexuality are fluid. This is not a problem. 

Visual description: a meme with the upper half featuring an advertisement for non binary flag tshirts for women and men. In the bottom half of the meme is a white elderly person with a half smile on their face. The text at the bottom of the screenshot says “ironic”.

Non binary people are very attractive and deserve a treat every day, but especially today.

Non binary people can experience gender euphoria and that usually happens in queer spaces where we can let our guard down. We know our names, pronouns and being will be respected and loved. Funny how that doesn’t often happen in the wider world.

What will it take for this to be a standard experience, a reliable feeling? I would hazard a guess that the answer is a couple of generations and humanity choosing humility over ego. 

When you introduce yourself to someone, tell them your pronouns. Normalise not assuming.

Normalise the status quo being that we do not know what anyone’s gender is by looking at them, hearing them speak, identifying their type of work or noting their family structure.

When you enter a space and look for a bathroom you can use safely, notice how you feel if that isn’t the case. This is what’s going on in about 90% of places (I’m hazarding a guess from my lived experience). Next time you’re busting for a wee, imagine the only bathroom available to you is one that has people who are angry at you for existing, as well as people who are highly likely to physically harm you. It’s not great.

If you’re involved in creating a building for public or client use, make sure there’s an all gender bathroom available for use. Please. 

Visual description: A screenshot from Twitter. "@Arbeit_Fish (Arbeitology) tweets: Have Australians started saying ‘non-bino’ for non-binary yet? 12 Sep ‘22 Twitter Web App. Pronbanger 5000 replies”’mate, tell me ya pronies’. Dave replies ‘And it would be ‘pronza’ or ‘pronbanger’. As in ‘Mikela’s proffered pronbanger is “bra”’.

If any of this is a bit mysterious and you feel confused, there are so many resources online. Look for them.

If you’re in a position to impact staff activities in a workplace, ensure everyone is up to date with inclusive and queer friendly terminology. Ensure everyone understands how harmful micro-aggressions and lateral violence are.

I don’t identify as non binary, I am non binary.

Visual description: A meme with a photo of Simon Cowell from American Idol looking annoyed holding a piece of paper. The top of the screenshot reads: “Society: *hands me a gender* Me (followed by image of Simon Cowell) text at bottom of screenshot reads “It’s a no from me”.

Gender is a white colonial construct (thanks for reinforcing that Deadloch!) and it blows that it’s still the status quo. 

Read tweets by @sandyosullivan who is extremely knowledgeable and generous with sharing their work.

If you’re one of the people who holds the belief that non binary people are a fad, get lost. I don’t care about your views. Educate yourself.

To my queer kin and non binary siblings, damn it’s good to be so attractive, intelligent and evolved. Ok love you, bye!