Premium Content:

July 14th is International Non-Binary People's Day


July 14th marks International Non-Binary People’s Day around the world, celebrating folks who identify outside of the gender binary, and raise awareness of issues and challenges faced by the community.

Back in March, ABC’s Four Corners program gave a voice to a group of young non-binary Australians who shared why their non-binary identity is so important to them.

- Advertisement -

“Everyone wants to fit into a box,” 22-year-old Riley told Four Corners.

“And even I want to fit myself into a box because that’s how we are raised to think. That’s how society works… So the idea of being something that wasn’t male or female was very, very difficult for everyone around me. And it’s still something I’m coming to terms with.”

11-year-old Olivia explains “I am non-binary which means I have no gender. I am just me.”

“The world basically revolves around boxes and those two boxes are a male and a female box. And if you’re born with a female body you have to be female and if you are born with a male body you have to be a male and you’ve been put into a box.”

In 2019, Bi+ Community Perth member Jay Chesters highlighted intersectionality between non-binary folks and the bisexual+ community; “Just as sexuality exists on a scale… so is gender identity not a fixed binary.”

“A recent study by Curtin PhD researcher, Misty Farquhar, found that, of almost 800 people from across Australia who were bisexual/non-binary, 68% identified as both bisexual and non-binary,” Chesters wrote.

“Furthermore, many of those who did not identify as non-binary still played around with normative notions of gender.”

Chesters continues to dive into discrimination faced by non-binary folks from within the LGBTIQ+ community.

“Non-binary people can find themselves on the receiving end of prejudice from some people in the trans community, as well as from cisgender people – similar to how bi+ people can feel too queer for straight spaces, yet treated by some as too straight for the queer community.”

“Finding a place where you feel you belong can be a problem for both communities.”

“Many organisations and venues use “Gay and Lesbian” as if it were an all-inclusive term, just as events and organisations welcome individuals who “identify as…” male or female.”

“What is left unsaid in both instances can speak volumes about identity erasure.”

If you are a non-binary person seeking community in WA, or resources on how to be a better ally to non-binary folks, head to transfolkofwa.org

OIP Staff


Love OUTinPerth Campaign

Help support the publication of OUTinPerth by contributing to our
GoFundMe campaign.

 

 

Latest

On This Gay Day | Tasmania decriminalised homosexuality in 1997

Australia's journey to decriminalisation was a slow process.

British soccer player given whopping suspension for on pitch gay slur

It's not the first time he's been accused of using gay slurs during a game.

Which WA seats will be in focus on election night

All eyes will be on Tangney, Curtin, Moore, Canning and other WA seats once counting gets underway.

And then they were two, Auckland drops out of Gay Games bid

Auckland has withdrawn its bid to host the 2030...

Newsletter

Don't miss

On This Gay Day | Tasmania decriminalised homosexuality in 1997

Australia's journey to decriminalisation was a slow process.

British soccer player given whopping suspension for on pitch gay slur

It's not the first time he's been accused of using gay slurs during a game.

Which WA seats will be in focus on election night

All eyes will be on Tangney, Curtin, Moore, Canning and other WA seats once counting gets underway.

And then they were two, Auckland drops out of Gay Games bid

Auckland has withdrawn its bid to host the 2030...

Tinā, the debut feature from Miki Magasiva is a love letter to all Pacifika mothers

The film has a special opening night event at Luna Leederville.

On This Gay Day | Tasmania decriminalised homosexuality in 1997

Australia's journey to decriminalisation was a slow process.

British soccer player given whopping suspension for on pitch gay slur

It's not the first time he's been accused of using gay slurs during a game.

Which WA seats will be in focus on election night

All eyes will be on Tangney, Curtin, Moore, Canning and other WA seats once counting gets underway.