Non-Binary

A gender identity (and umbrella term) for genders that exist outside the male/female binary.

Definition

A gender identity (and umbrella term) for genders that exist outside the male/female binary. Non-binary people may identify as neither man nor woman, as both, as a combination, or as something else entirely.

Flag

Non-Binary flag · Designer: Kye Rowan · February 2014

Four equal horizontal stripes: yellow, white, purple, black. Made by Kye Rowan in February 2014, for non-binary people who did not feel represented by the genderqueer flag. Rowan was explicit that it was not meant to replace Marilyn Roxie's 2011 genderqueer flag but to be flown alongside it. Neither flag has been retired, both are in current use, and this guide keeps a separate entry for each.

Colour codes: Non-Binary flag
Stripe	HEX	RGB	CMYK	Pantone	Meaning
1	`#FFF430`	255,244,48	C:0 M:4 Y:81 K:0	PMS 102 C	Gender outside the binary entirely
2	`#FFFFFF`	255,255,255	C:0 M:0 Y:0 K:0	n/a	Multiple genders (white = all colors combined)
3	`#9C59D1`	156,89,209	C:25 M:57 Y:0 K:18	PMS 2655 C	Blend of male and female
4	`#000000`	0,0,0	C:0 M:0 Y:0 K:100	n/a	Agender / absence of gender

Full flag history →

Etymology

"Non-binary" as a gender identity descriptor emerged in online communities in the early 2010s. The underlying experiences predate the terminology significantly.

History

Non-binary and third gender identities are documented across thousands of years of human history worldwide
1990 - Judith Butler publishes Gender Trouble, arguing gender is performative
2014 - Kye Rowan designs the non-binary pride flag, aged 17, to complement the genderqueer flag
2015 - American Dialect Society declares singular "they" its Word of the Year
2019 - Merriam-Webster adds the non-binary sense of singular "they" to its dictionary
Judith Butler uses they/them pronouns and has said they see themselves within the non-binary category; no primary source fixes a date for that
Several countries now offer legal non-binary gender markers on identity documents

Common myths

"Non-binary is a modern trend invented online." Non-binary identities are documented across thousands of years of human history.
"Non-binary people just want attention." Non-binary is a deeply felt, consistent gender identity.
"You can tell if someone is non-binary by how they look." Gender expression and gender identity are entirely separate.

Notable people

Judith Butler (1956 to present) - Philosopher; Gender Trouble (1990) reshaped how gender is theorised. Butler uses they/them pronouns and has said they see themselves within the non-binary category.
Sam Smith (1992-) - British musician; came out as non-binary 2019
Alok Vaid-Menon (1991-) - Performance artist and non-binary advocate
Jacob Tobia (1991-) - Author; Sissy: A Coming-of-Gender Story
Janelle Monáe (1985 to present) - Musician and actor; came out as non-binary in April 2022 on Red Table Talk, saying "I just don't see myself as a woman, solely"