International Non-Binary Day
14 July
International Non-Binary People’s Day is celebrated on 14th July. First observed in 2012, this date was chosen for being halfway between International Men’s Day and International Women’s Day.
International Non-Binary People’s Day aims to raise awareness of the many issues faced by non-binary people such as discrimination, disbelief, and misgendering.
So what does non-binary mean?
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. Importantly, remember it is entirely up to an individual how they identify themselves and there is no single ‘right’ way to be non-binary.
To mark International Non-binary People’s Day celebrations, Stonewall will be sharing stories by non-binary people using the hashtag #ThisIsWhatNonBinaryLooksLike.
How can we help?
We should consider how to be better non-binary allies, and to be more inclusive of everyone regardless of their gender identity. Using inclusive and non-gendered language is key and while it may take time to get used to, it causes you no harm and helps to make non-binary people feel valid and acknowledged. Here are some ways to do this:
- Include your pronouns in your email signature and when you introduce yourself – this can make other people comfortable with sharing their own pronouns
- Addressing group as ‘folks’ or ‘everyone’ rather than ‘ladies and gentlemen’ – inclusive and prevents misgendering and alienating people
- Focus on the relationship rather than gender e.g. siblings, parents, partner
- Using ‘they/their’ rather than ‘he/his’ or ‘she/her’ – not everyone uses gendered pronouns or their preferred pronouns may not be known or clear. Using ‘they/their’ is an easy, inobtrusive and natural way to be respectful and inclusive
For more information about pronouns, visit Pronouns Matter.
For more support and information about Non-Binary Peoples Day, you can visit Stonewall and Papyrus
Support and advice for non-binary people can also be found at LGBT Foundation - Home and Home | Gendered Intelligence and Homepage - Mermaids (mermaidsuk.org.uk)
The Council work extremely hard to ensure that we offer a safe and enjoyable place for LGBTQI+ people to work and to ensure that the Vale of Glamorgan area is a positive and nurturing environment therein. If you would like to get involved in this, or if you have any suggestions for how to make things better, please contact GLAM, our LGBT+ Staff Network.
There are also some useful and interesting courses available for all staff on iDev.
If you are concerned about discrimination or harassment, or want more information about how to report it, please refer to the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s grievance policy.