International Non-Binary People's Day is observed each year on 14 July and is aimed at raising awareness and highlighting the issues faced by non-binary people around the world. First celebrated in 2012, the date was chosen for being precisely between International Men's Day and International Women's Day.
To celebrate International Non-Binary People’s Day, members of &Proud, our internal people’s network for the LGBTQ+ community and allies, share their experiences.
Dan Stubbs, Media Technology Partner (they/them)
What does being non-binary mean to you?
For me, being non-binary means that my experience of gender is fluid and interchangeable. As a parent, this means not putting myself in a box when it comes to my role in the family. My existence challenges stereotypical expectations of ‘mother’ and ‘father’, but my kids are learning to be more inclusive and think beyond the binary, not just when it comes to gender. It’s not always easy, especially when childcare and school services aren’t always too inclusive of queer parents, but since coming out to my kids, they’ve become my two biggest champions.
What is one thing you wish more people knew about non-binary?
Part of being non-binary is about rejecting the notion that anything is gendered: that includes clothes, names, parenting roles, and jobs. Being non-binary doesn’t equal androgyny, but it also doesn’t equate to reductive stereotypes like ‘men in dresses’ or ‘women in suits’: these are based on the same gender binaries that we’re trying to reject.
How has your experience been of being non-binary in the workplace?
I’ve been fortunate that my manager and MD have both been really supportive, which has helped me feel empowered and affirmed in my journey. But I can’t say that it’s easy: ‘coming out’ as non-binary is a constant and ongoing process, which is often made harder by lack of education and poor visibility of other non-binary people. Often it involves having lots of one-to-one conversations with people to explain and educate, which puts a heavy burden on non-binary people; we need allies to help and support us too.
It’s also been refreshing to work for a company that are so leaned in and willing to learn and adapt to things. Our employee resource groups and social impact team are invaluable when it comes to navigating these spaces.
Wren Davies, Paid Social (they/them)
What does being non-binary mean to you?
For me, it means not living with a gendered societal filter on what I say, do or look like. Before coming out, I knew I didn’t fit in with the common conceptions or expectations of being ‘male’, and though I came to terms with that as I got older there was still always a part of me trying to perform what was expected of me. Now, I feel like I can live without that voice in my head telling me what I’m doing is wrong. I can go with the flow of my own identity and evolve without constraints.
What is one thing you wish more people knew about non-binary?
I wish there was a better understanding of the problems we face in everyday life. The struggles of nonbinary people are still less understood than they should be, and they’re not seen as their own distinct issues. On a legislative level, non-binary issues are barely represented at best, and often intentionally made worse. The daily experience of living as a non-binary person is also poorly understood. The feeling of gender dysphoria, not being understood by your loved ones, or the impact of being misgendered are all experiences that are woefully underrepresented societally. If everyone had an open mind and an empathetic ear, people like me might find the world an easier place to live in and move through.
How has your experience been of being non-binary in the workplace?
My coming out experience was intimately tied into my working life, with my team being some of the first people I came out to, even before my family. My colleagues changing their language helped affirm my gender identity in the fragile early stages of my transition. Best of all they asked questions. I had several great conversations with colleagues who weren’t sure of things or hadn’t worked with a non-binary person before. The people around you really make the world of difference.
In the wider business, there was somewhat of a lack of formalised processes in place to support me with things like changing my name. However, what I found was passionate people in my team and in HR who were with me every step of the way. They helped with the boring basics of changing details on IT systems, but they also checked in with me on a personal level. I really felt like I had people in my corner.
Scott Sallee, Social Impact & Sustainability Lead (he/they)
What does being non-binary mean to you?
Being non-binary offers me the experience of fluidity in moving through life. It’s not limited to gender – it’s an expression of how I see the world. I want all people to feel safe to explore the expansiveness of their full selves without categorisation or rigidity. To rebirth and renew, keeping only what serves and shedding what does not. Rejecting the convenience of categorisation requires courage. The fluid experience invites introspection, curiosity, and a kaleidoscopic identity as we move through the chapters of life. The gift of fluidity is the gift of possibility, of infinite growth, and of limitless self-discovery.
What is one thing you wish more people knew about non-binary?
That it is not a new trend. Non-binary people have been celebrated by cultures around the world since recorded history. I grew up in Hawaii where non-binary people were cherished as caretakers, healers, and teachers until colonialisation. A beautiful and visually engaging site to explore gender in indigenous and ancient cultures is:
https://adventuresintimeandgender.org/wormholes/world-genders/
How has your experience been of being non-binary in the workplace?
Being out in the workplace has been comfortable for me. I was out to people at work before I was with friends or family – work provided a controlled and professional environment where I could expect to be treated with respect. It is our responsibility to use the privilege and influence we each have to create and maintain spaces of psychological safety so that our people can bring their best selves to work. At dentsu, we developed a ‘Coming out Guide’ to celebrate our community and bring policy into an engaging document. Our ambition is that it remains a beacon for people looking for an inclusive workplace – for the LGBTQ+ community and for all under-represented groups.
Nina Taylor, Senior Social Media Manager (they/them)
What does being non-binary mean to you?
For me it's about living in a space bordering the socially constructed gender binary, I do not identify as either female or male, but instead believe to be somewhere in-between. This manifests differently for everyone who identifies as non-binary and I believe it is only right to talk about my own interpretation, as everyone will have their own reasons and beliefs.
What is one thing you wish more people knew about non-binary?
That there is no right or wrong way to be non-binary. It simply means you do not agree with the social construct of gender in it's many forms, which, in my opinion can be damaging and limiting to one's personal development.
You can appear as "feminine" and be non-binary or "masculine", or "androgynous" - all of these are equally valid and no one should dictate how this gender identity should be lived.
How has your experience been of being non-binary in the workplace?
I was very nervous at first of "coming out" (for the second time 🌈) in a work setting. I didn't know whether to mention it or not, didn't know how people would react and also whether I was ready to feel the need to explain my identity to others.
I am still navigating being non-binary in the workplace, the most common issues for me are being mis-gendered, internally and by clients and knowing when is appropriate to correct people and how to do this.
I can see that changes are happening, dentsu Manchester have gender neutral toilets on the ground floor and more and more people are adding their pronouns to their email signatures. but I would more awareness and education to happen around gender identity, so that everyone feels safe and comfortable to ask questions, share experiences and understand how to support someone who is non-binary in a professional setting.
Links to educational content:
Stonewall
https://www.stonewall.org.uk/about-us/news/10-ways-step-ally-non-binary-people
Publicly available training
https://www.genderbread.org/
YouTube videos
‘nonbinary comes in every age.’ - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bo2FgrTfubw
‘Misconceptions about being nonbinary || Angel & Nicole’ - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7V0CAvMwtgA
‘What is a nonbinary gender? | Riley J. Dennis’ - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruST0GPi68s