BY: Jasmine Franklin
Published 2 weeks ago
Everyone doesn’t fit into the heteronormative “he” or “she” mold. They never have, and that’s OK. International Nonbinary People’s Day reminds the world that millions of people exist outside the gender binary and don’t owe anyone an explanation for how they move through the world. It’s about celebrating who you are! And no, you don’t need a holiday to know who you are, but it helps when the world finally looks up and listens.
How It All Started
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In 2012, writer and activist Katje van Loon noticed a pattern: the world continued to divide gender into two boxes, leaving everyone else out of the frame.
It started when they went down a “rabbit hole” about gender identities, and learned about people who don’t follow the conventional gender norms.
“‘This is me,’ I thought. ‘I am non-binary. This has been me my whole life. And I’ve just never had the words to describe it.’ I started crying. I knew I had to tell my boyfriend,” Van Loon told BBC.
There was International Women’s Day on March 8. There was International Men’s Day on November 19. But where were the people who didn’t fit either category? Where was the space for them to feel seen?
Van Loon chose July 14 for a reason. It falls directly between those two dates.
Since then, International Nonbinary People’s Day has gained global traction. It has been used to amplify nonbinary voices, push for inclusive policies, and spotlight people whose stories are often overlooked or misunderstood.
Why July 14 Matters
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International Nonbinary People’s Day occurs annually on July 14. The day shows up for the kid who’s still learning the language to describe how they feel. For the adult who changes their name and breathes easier. For the elders who never had the words but always knew they were more than what they were told to be.
This day is for people who don’t want to pick sides, perform gender roles, or squeeze into a box that doesn’t fit. It reminds the world that gender is expansive.
How to Show Support
If you’re nonbinary, take up space like it’s your birthright because it is. You don’t owe anyone clarity, consistency, or softness. Rest if you’re tired. Speak if you have something to say. Celebrate your existence, especially in a world that keeps trying to erase it.
If you’re an ally, show it with action. Learn how to say “they” like it’s not a tongue-twister. Correct people even when it’s awkward. If you make a mistake, apologize once and strive to do better next time. Don’t center your guilt. Don’t make someone’s identity a topic of debate.
Go further. Donate to grassroots orgs that fight for trans and nonbinary safety. Share your platform. Learn without expecting someone to teach you. Challenge systems and policies that erase or exclude people with nonbinary identities. Buy books written by nonbinary authors. Share their work without rewriting their words.
International Nonbinary People’s Day exists because people fought to be acknowledged and recognized. And that fight isn’t over. There’s still a lot of work to be done, including securing legal recognition, improving access to healthcare, enhancing media representation, and achieving everyday respect. But this day reminds us that joy, pride, and presence can also be forms of protest.
So celebrate. Push. Reflect. Support. And most of all, remember this: nonbinary people don’t need to be “understood“ to be respected. They just need to be seen.
How are you honoring International Nonbinary People’s Day? Share how you’re showing up, speaking out, or simply celebrating in the comments below!
