International Nonbinary People’s Day
Nonbinary is an umbrella term for gender identities that fall outside or between the binary of male to female. People that identify as nonbinary often use pronouns that are not gendered (eg they/them/theirs). However, they may also identify as being both man and woman, in between the 2, or completely outside of the binary. Many nonbinary individuals also identify as transgender or may use the terms agender, bigender, genderqueer, or genderfluid to describe their gender identity.
Diversity and Inclusivity
International Nonbinary People’s Day, July 14th, celebrates gender diversity and the strides for inclusivity that have occurred over the years. Approximately 11% (1.2 million) of LGBTQIA+ adults (ages 18-60) in the United States are nonbinary. Recognition of nonbinary gender identity has been increasing both within the United States and around the world. There are 22 states that now allow a gender neutral option on driver’s licenses, and Australia’s national census also included a nonbinary gender option for the first time in 2021. Socially, people have become more aware of the need for both gendered and gender neutral pronouns to better encompass the full spectrum of gender identities. Generally, there is more research and information on gender identities that do not conform to the gender binary today than there ever has been.
Risks and Dangers
While strides for diversity and inclusivity are being made, there are still many dangers for nonbinary individuals.
Nonbinary individuals are at a higher risk of experiencing violence, discrimination, and negative health outcomes. They not only experience higher rates of domestic violence and sexual assault, but they are also often the targets of transphobic hate crimes and other forms of discrimination. According to the UCLA Williams Institute study, nonbinary children often experience emotional abuse (82%), physical abuse (40%), and sexual abuse (41%), and by adulthood, 55% of nonbinary people have been either physically or sexually assaulted as adults. Additionally, over half of nonbinary people report being bullied throughout their childhood, and 11% were forced to go through conversion therapy. Members of the LGBTQIA+ community often face employment discrimination, and this is especially true for nonbinary adults, 68% of whom report not having enough income to make ends meet.
Suicide rates are higher among LGBTQIA+ individuals than in their cisgender heterosexual counterparts. The Trevor Project’s 2022 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health found that 45% of LGBTQIA+ youth had considered suicide in the past year, and more than half of the transgender and nonbinary individuals who responded to the survey had considered suicide in the past year.
International Nonbinary People’s Day is a time to celebrate and draw attention to nonbinary individuals, their accomplishments, and their struggles. It is a time to celebrate diversity and inclusion and push for more equality and equity for everyone across the gender spectrum.
This blog was written by STM Learning’s editorial staff for educational purposes only. It is not intended to give specific medical or legal advice. For expert information on the discussed subjects, please refer to STM Learning’s publications.
