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Your Child Just Came Out as Non-Binary, Now What? By Annette Benedetti
F
or many parents, the term “non-binary” is relatively new. Over the last handful of years, more and more celebrities like Janelle Monáe, Miley Cyrus and Ruby Rose have come out as identifying as something other than the gender they were assigned at birth (female), helping to shine a light on the non-binary experience and giving non-binary youths the courage to come out to their loved ones. If you are a parent who has just discovered your child in non-binary, you may feel confused about what this means as well as what you should do moving forward to support the child you have called your daughter or son since they were born. From non-binary basics and using pronouns to finding local
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resources, the following is a guide to understanding and supporting your genderqueer child.
What is Non-Binary?
While most parents think of their child as either male or female, some children find that their gender identity doesn’t fit in either category. Some may express that their gender is a combination of both male and female, others may express that they don’t identify as either gender or that their gender identity changes over time. The term non-binary is an umbrella term for individuals whose identity does not fit the binary categories of male and female. Other terms include genderqueer, agender and bi-gender. While each mean something slightly different, they all express an identity other than male or female.
