The Transgender Dictionary

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z MISCELLANEOUS

Nonbinary

Table of Contents

Introduction

Nonbinary is an umbrella term used to refer to those who do not strictly adhere to the traditional gender binary (the traditional gender binary refering to the dichotomy of male and female). As implied by the nature of being an umbrella term, being "nonbinary" is a vast and varied experience. The genders and experiences within the nonbinary community are unique and diverse. The nonbinary community has a rich and varied history across the world. Many indigenous cultures have 3rd (or more) genders, such as the Native Americans' "Two-Spirit" gender role.

Some nonbinary people use broad, vague labels to define their gender identities. Others seek out precise labels to explain their experiences in detail to others. There is a lot of overlap between nonbinary identities, and you can easily find various nonbinary people who have nothing in common with one another (gender wise, though I assume if you grabbed a bunch of random people, they would have other traits that are unrelated other than gender). Particularly online, some nonbinary people will search for (or simply coin) hyperspecific terms to describe their own unique experiences with gender; in an effort to seek out others with the same experience.

Some nonbinary people present androdgynous, while others prefer to lean into their masculinity or femininity. The styles of hair and clothes worn by nonbinary people will vary wildly from person to person. Everyone has their own journey to explore their gender presentation; playing with aesthetics to best communicate their inner selves to the world. To be nonbinary is to find your own unique combination to satistfy the conditions of gender euphoria.

Some nonbinary people use gender-neutral pronouns as a method of gender-affirmation, however some still use he or she. Others still use their own unique combinations. They/them pronouns are commonly associated with nonbinary people in the english language, but it is all down to personal preference and how everyone chooses to socially communicate their gender identities. Some nonbinary people will keep the names that they were born with. Others will choose new names to better represent themselves.

There are numerous terms used for and by those who are nonbinary across cultures and languages. Though not considered mainstream, finding your identity as a non-binary person can be freeing. Like any gender journey, to discover that you are nonbinary is to defy gender roles. Defy the expectations. To simply be as you are without adhering to what was expected of you when you were born. To reach out to what was truly inside of you, waiting to be nurtured.

While there are some binary transgender people who try on the nonbinary experience as a stepping stone of their gender transitions; for countless people to be nonbinary is the destination. The end result. The ideal result. The best case scenario. Most nonbinary people are typically read as either male or female to the general public (who make assumptions about anyone they come across and assume that they must be correct) but the assumptions of others don't have to define who a person is. To be gender diverse is to be yourself, even when things seem against you.

Discrimination against nonbinary people is known as binarism.

General Information

While the term "nonbinary" is included under the transgender umbrella, not all people who identify as nonbinary also identify as transgender. Many nonbinary people also identify as being transgender.

Some people who identify as nonbinary will undergo hormonal transition such as taking estrogen or testosterone. Some do not. Some nonbinary people pursue gender affirming surgeries. Some nonbinary people identify with ideas such as nullification or salmacian, and obtain non-traditional gender affirming surgeries accordingly. Some nonbinary people identify under the labels of transfeminine or transmasculine to define their identities. What labels a nonbinary does or does not use is down to the individual person.

Being nonbinary is not the same thing as being intersex. Animals cannot be "biologically nonbinary" but they can be intersex. Nonbinary is a human gender identity, not a biological variation.

Some Common Nonbinary Identities

The Nonbinary Flag

The non-binary flag has four stripes in four colors.

The top yellow stripe represents individuals whose genders do not exist within the traditional gender binary.

The second stripe is white, representing individuals who identify with multiple genders.

The third stripe is purple, representing individuals who identify as a blend of male and female.

The fourth and final stripe is black, represending agender individuals.

The yellow in the abinary flag is a reference to the yellow in the nonbinary flag.

The black and white stripes in the agender flag represent a lack of gender.

The gray in the agender flag represents semi-genderless.

The green in the agender flag represents nonbinary genders.

The pink in the androgyne flag represents the spectrum of femininity.

The purple in the androgyne flag represents androgyny.

The blue in the androgyne flag represents the spectrum of masculinity.

The blue stripe in the aporagender flag represents masculinity.

The pink stripe in the aporagender flag represents femininity.

The purple stripe in the aporagender flag represents feeling between male and female.

The yellow stripe in the aporagender flag represents a strong connection to experiencing gender.

The pink stripes in the bigender flag represent the spectrum of femininity.

The purple stripes in the bigender flag represent androgyny.

The white stripe in the bigender flag represents nonbinary identities.

The blue stripes in the bigender flag represent the spectrum of femininity.

The blue stripes in the demiboy flag represent the spectrum of manhood and masculinity.

The white stripe in the demiboy flag represents nonbinary and agender identities.

The grey stripes in the demiboy flag represent partial connections with genders apart from male, or a lack of gender.

The yellow stripes in the demigender flag represent the spectrum of nonbinary and genderqueer identities and individuals.

The white stipe in the demigender flag represents the experience of partial identification with a specific gender.

The grey stripes in the demigender flag represent the absence of gender both the spectrum of agender identities and the diversity among those who identify as demigender.

The pink stripes in the demigirl flag represent the spectrum of womanhood and femininity.

The white stripe in the demigirl flag represents nonbinary and agender identities.

The grey stripes in the demigirl flag represent partial connections with genders apart from female, or a lack of gender.

The pink stripe in the genderfluid flag represents femininity.

The white stripe in the genderfluid flag represents a lack of gender.

The purple stripe in the genderfluid flag represents a combination of femininity and masculinity.

The black stripe in the genderfluid flag represents all other genders that are not related to femininity or masculinity.

The blue stripe in the genderfluid flag represents masculinity.

The lavender stripe in the genderqueer flag represents androgyny, and the combination of both masculine and feminine characteristics.

The white stripe in the genderqueer flag represents being agender, genderless, having no gender, or having a neutral gender.

Symbolizing growth and renewal, the green stripe in the genderqueer flag represents those who identify as nonbinary or outside the gender binary.

The white stripe in the neutrois flag represents being unidentified, gender neutral, or undecided.

The dark chartreuse green stripe was chosen for the neutrois flag as it is the opposite of lavender (a color typically representing a mix of masculinity and femininity) to represent being neither masculine nor feminine.

The black stripe in the neutrois flag represents being agender or genderless.

The colored stripes - red (life), orange (healing), yellow (sunlight), green (nature), blue (serenity), purple (spirit) - of the two-spirit flag have the same meanings as they do in the original rainbow flag.

The two feathers in the two-spirit flag represent man and woman.

The circle in the two-spirit flag represents unity.

The symbol at the center of the xenogender flag is the astronomical sign for the asteroid Iris. This asteriod was named after the greek goddess of rainbows.

suits divider
star divider