International Non-Binary People’s Day

Date:

Every year on July 14

Brief Origin

International Non-Binary People’s Day was first celebrated on July 14, 2012, though it is not affiliated with any single organization or government. It was established by activists and members of the LGBTQIA+ community to increase visibility, recognition, and respect for non-binary people around the world.

The date was symbolically chosen because it falls exactly halfway between International Women's Day (March 8) and International Men's Day (November 19) — emphasizing that non-binary identities exist beyond the male-female binary.

Who Are Non-Binary People?

Non-binary is an umbrella term for gender identities that don’t fit strictly within the categories of “male” or “female.” Non-binary individuals may:

• Identify as both male and female, neither, somewhere in between, or completely outside the gender binary

• Use pronouns such as they/them, ze/zir, xe/xem, or others

• Fall under related identities such as:

  • Genderqueer

  • Agender

  • Bigender

  • Genderfluid

  • Demiboy/Demigirl

• Be part of the transgender community, but not always — the experiences and definitions can be personal and varied

Key Themes of the Day

1. Visibility & Representation

• Raises awareness about non-binary identities, which are often excluded from legal recognition and media portrayal

• Highlights the diversity within the gender spectrum

2. Education & Advocacy

• Provides opportunities to educate the public about gender diversity, pronouns, and inclusion

• Counters myths and misinformation about non-binary people

3. Inclusion & Legal Recognition

• Promotes the right to legal gender recognition, access to healthcare, and protection from discrimination

• Supports changes in ID documents, forms, bathrooms, and institutions to include non-binary people

4. Celebration & Empowerment

• Celebrates the achievements, voices, and resilience of non-binary individuals in all walks of life — including art, politics, activism, and science

• Encourages non-binary joy, self-expression, and community building

Significance & Global Relevance

• Non-binary identities have existed in many cultures historically — including:

  • Hijra in South Asia

  • Two-Spirit people in many Indigenous North American tribes

  • Fa'afafine in Samoa

  • Bakla in the Philippines

• Despite this, modern societies and laws often operate on a strict binary system (male/female), which excludes or erases non-binary individuals

• This day brings attention to the need for gender justice, intersectional inclusion, and equal rights

How It's Celebrated

• Social media awareness campaigns — using hashtags like #NonBinaryPeoplesDay, #InternationalNonBinaryDay, #TheyThem, etc.

• Talks, webinars, and panels — by non-binary activists, artists, and educators

• Workshops and allyship training — for schools, workplaces, and organizations

• Publications, poetry, and zines — celebrating non-binary voices

• Policy advocacy — for inclusion in healthcare, documentation, and anti-discrimination laws

Famous Non-Binary People & Advocates

Name	Profession
Alok Vaid-Menon	Poet, speaker, and performance artist
Jonathan Van Ness	TV personality and LGBTQ+ advocate
Emma Corrin	Actor (uses they/them pronouns)
Sam Smith	Singer (publicly identifies as non-binary)
Asia Kate Dillon	Actor (first non-binary actor to play a non-binary role on U.S. TV)

Quick Key Points Table

Aspect	Details
Name	International Non-Binary People’s Day
Date	July 14
First Celebrated	2012
Chosen Because	It’s halfway between Women’s Day (March 8) and Men’s Day (Nov 19)
Purpose	Visibility, respect, celebration, and rights for non-binary people
Key Themes	Awareness, education, inclusion, advocacy, and community empowerment
Observed By	LGBTQIA+ community, allies, educators, policy-makers, and institutions