International Non-Binary People’s Day is observed each year on 14 July and is aimed at raising awareness and organising around the issues faced by non-binary people around the world.
According to Stonewall (who wrote a great article on this):
“Non-binary” is an umbrella term for people whose gender identity doesn’t sit comfortably with ‘man’ or ‘woman’. Non-binary identities are varied and can include people who identify with some aspects of binary identities, while others reject them entirely.
Non-binary people can feel that their gender identity and gender experience involves being both a man and a woman, or that it is fluid, in between, or completely outside of that binary.
It is important to note that non-binary is not the same as Trans. While the term trans generally encompasses people whose gender is not the same as, or does not sit comfortably with, the sex they were assigned at birth, some non-binary people don’t see themselves as trans. It’s always important to respect the language someone uses to define themselves.
Finally, it is important to remember that someone’s LGBTQIA+ related identity is not always fixed. So, flexibility and a person-led approach is the easiest and most respectful approach.
Further Reading:
- How to be an Ally: Add your pronouns to your email footer and/LinkedIn Profile
- Law Society Guide to Using pronouns in the Workplace
- How to be an Ally: Update your Policies, Procedures, documents and Communications to gender neutral language
- Watch: Inclusive workplaces for trans and non-binary people – SRA Webinar
- What can you do for Non-Binary Week?
- Watch: Bi, trans and non-binary intersectionality: a parallel journey to acceptance
- Listen: Gender fluid inclusion within the legal profession
