Noun. The belief that such things as gender identity have only two distinct, opposite, and disconnected forms. In other words, they believe in the gender binary, or that only male and female genders exist. As a rejection of this belief, many people embrace a non-binary gender identity.
The It Gets Better Project celebrates all non-binary (nb, enby) folks in our wonderful LGBTQ+ community. All genders are beautiful. This July 14, we specifically hold up our non-binary family.
Still, no matter who they are or how they identify, these celebrities are breaking down barriers with their powerful visibility. and showing the world that they are able to be who they are and successful at whatever they wish to do.
Asia Kate Dillon plays the first nonbinary character on TV: a keenly intelligent intern on the show Billions.
In an interview with Vulture, Dillon discusses the connection they felt with the character who instantly revealed truths about themselves in their own, real, life, of which they were previously unaware:
“…female meaning sex and nonbinary meaning a gender identity that is an umbrella term for people who identify as neither man nor a woman. I just went, oh my gosh, there is language to express something about myself that I’ve always known, but could never put words to. I mean, it really helped. It’s interesting: As much visibility as Taylor is giving to the nonbinary community now that Billions is on the air, Taylor gave that visibility and hope to me first.”
On Pronouns:
“I started removing ‘she’ and ‘her’ from my online bio material or my bio in a program, and I just replaced it with my name. I used my name instead of a pronoun, which felt really good.Once I read the breakdown for Taylor, before even being cast in the role, I immediately made the changes to any online material I had. I started saying, ‘These are my pronouns.’”
Read more of Dillon’s insight in their interview here.
🌈✊ YOUTH ACTIVISM SERIES - THE IT GETS BETTER PROJECT 🌈✊
THE IT GETS BETTER PROJECT IS LOOKING FOR OPENLY LGBTQ+ YOUTH ACTIVISTS TO SHARE YOUR STORY IN A WEB DOCU-SERIES.
Our goal is to give viewers around the world a hopeful, affirming glimpse into the lives of activists who identify as LGBTQ+ around the world (including outside of USA) and a respect for the intersectionality of many forms of activism. We’re looking for young people between the ages of 14-24 who are comfortably “out” as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer and who are involved in intersectional causes that aren’t necessarily directly about LGBTQ+ equality.
Maybe you’re part of a group of young queer activists working to end gun violence or fight for change in immigration policy. Maybe you’re creating a space for other LGBTQ+ youth to join you in advocating for global climate change or local workers rights. Maybe you’re creating art as activism related to racial inequality or reproductive justice. Maybe you are just a young person who is passionate about a particular cause and want to see a change in the world. We’re looking for young people between 14-24 who are changing the world…or even your own community. No cause is too small!
Does being openly LGBTQ+ impact your view of the world? Why are you so passionate about the cause you’re fighting for? The time commitment is limited- filming would take place over 1-2 days in your area based on your availability.
What’s your story? Please email us ASAP and let us know! casting@creatorup.com
PLEASE REFERENCE “ACTIVISM” IN THE EMAIL AND TELL US ABOUT YOU!
Since 2010, the It Gets Better Project has collected over 60,000 video stories from LGBTQ people and their allies from around the world. Here are some of our favorites from June 2017.
1. #PorUnFinalFeliz – “For A Happy Ending” Campaign
Through July, our affiliate in Chile, Todo Mejora, continues the campaign Por Un Final Feliz with the help of several media partners. A number of new videos have been uploaded to their YouTube page featuring uplifting stories from Chilean young people, as well as messages of hope from actors and other popular figures.
2. El Summit 2017 de Pride Connection Summit – It Gets Better México
It Gets Better México participated in the 2017 Pride Connection Summit and has a large number of It Gets Better videos uploaded to their YouTube page from other participants they came across there. Featured below is Carlos Maza, a manager over at Moovz, a global LGBT social network that’s particularly popular in Latin America. Pride Connection aims to foster inclusive company cultures for LGBTQ employees at professional work places across the world.
In July, we heard from some of the kids featured in the documentary Check It, which chronicles the journey of a group of young black LGBTQ men and women in Washington D.C., breaking out of poverty by launching clothing labels, walking runways, and putting on fashion shows. Emerging from violence and harassment, they made a family where they didn’t have one.
“Life for the Check It can be brutal, but it’s also full of hope and an indomitable resilience.”
In this series of videos, various members of the Check It share their stories & their messages for others in the LGBTQ community.
EL PAÍS is a daily newspaper based in Madrid, Spain with a circulation of over 15 million unique readers. In this video, a number of their staff have words of encouragement for LGBTQ jóvenes – young people.
5. Petra Bayr, a Member of Austrian Parliament, Says “It Gets Better”!
Petra Bayr knows that there is bullying and even violence against LGBTQ young people in her country. But as part of the government, she she hopes she can encourage young people to come out and stresses that things will be better.
Craving more?! Go to www.itgetsbetter.org, or keep scrolling to learn more about the cool things It Gets Better and its affiliates are doing around the world.
Colombia: It Gets Better Colombia marched for Pride in Bogotá alongside 150,000 other passionate fighters for the LGBTQ community.
España: Our affiliate in Spain also marched at World Pride 2017 alongside our Portuguese and Austrian affiliates! Supported by Lush Spain, we were proud to spread hope for LGBTQ youth around the world.
Paraguay: Meanwhile, It Gets Better Paraguay was busy participating in the first module of a workshop for a leadership school in Oviedo where they educated and empowered young people on topics of human rights.
Greece: Finally, It Gets Better Greece marched at both Pride events in Athens and Thessaloniki. “Ήταν ένα εξαίσιο (It was exquisite!)” they said.
Patrick Starrr Says Life Opens Up When You DoWe partnered in the United States with Patrick Starrr this pride season to spread positive messages with LGBTQ+ youth using #TheirStory!Since 2010, theIt Gets Better Projecthas collected over 60,000video stories from LGBTQ+ people and their allies from around the world. Here are some of our favorite moments from April 2019.
Unite UK’s Charlotte Shares Her Story and Message of Hope
Charlotte one of the co-founders of Unite UK tells her It Gets Better story, about her experience of having an eating disorder and how it got better.
Mexico’s UNDP Representative Gives a Message of Inclusion
Lorenzo Jiménez de Luis, México’s representative for the United Nations Development Programme voiced his message of hope and inclusion for the LGBTQ+ community for Pride Month.
Patrick Starrr Says Life Opens Up When You Do
We partnered in the United States with Patrick Starrr this pride season to spread positive messages with LGBTQ+ youth using #TheirStory!
What are ice skating groupies like? When I’m competing, a lot of times I’ll look up and there’ll be maybe one or two rainbow flags. (I’m gay, by the way.) I’ll meet the people flying the flags after the competition—nine times out of ten, lesbians. I’m very big in the lesbian community. The future actually is female, lesbians.
It’s been a year, which means it’s now legal to make terrible puns about all this! They can’t arrest us all.
Jokes aside, though, this is the cover of my new comic book, a collection of some of my favourite comics I made in the past year.
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