Gender identity: What does it mean to be nonbinary?

Being nonbinary means a person’s gender identity does not fit completely, or consistently, within the traditional categories of “man” and “woman.” Some people feel between genders, outside them, aligned with more than one, or experience their gender as changing over time.

The term describes an identity, not a fashion, sexual orientation or medical diagnosis. It refers to the intimate and social way a person recognizes and names themselves.

The article distinguishes three concepts that are often confused. Sex assigned at birth is usually recorded using physical characteristics such as genitalia, chromosomes or hormones. Gender identity is a person’s own experience of their gender. Sexual orientation refers to the direction of possible romantic or sexual attraction.

A nonbinary person may be heterosexual, gay, lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, asexual, or use another term, or none at all. Nonbinary people may have any anatomy and may choose whether to alter their gender expression, name, clothing or medical care. Many identify under the broader transgender umbrella because their gender differs from the sex assigned at birth, but each person decides whether the term fits.

Some nonbinary people use neutral pronouns such as “elle.” Others use feminine, masculine or combined pronouns. Respecting a person’s chosen name and pronouns means recognizing how they wish to be treated. There is no single way to look nonbinary, and identity does not depend on medical treatment or appearance.