July 14th is International Non-Binary People’s Day, which means it’s the perfect time to shine the light on some of the gender non-conforming people from history to today, and their bold and brave explorations of identity.
Emma D’Arcy, Actor
“When I was starting out, I really felt that I had to present as a woman in order to find success in this industry. It wasn’t sustainable and I stopped pretending.”
The Chevalier d’Eon, 18th Century Spy
“It must indeed be acknowledged that she is the most extraordinary person of the age… we have seen no one who has united so many military, political, and literary talents.” – The Annual Register Describing Chevalier d’Éon
Kehlani, Singer
“I love when people, at least at the core of their being, can say, ‘This is what I am, this is who I like, this is what I believe in’.”
Alok Vaid-Menon, Writer And Activist
“The real crisis is not that gender non-conforming people exist, it’s that we have been taught to believe in only two genders in the first place.”
Jennie June, Edwardian-era Autobiographer And Androgyne
“I beg all adults, particularly school officials, to be extraordinarily charitable and sympathetic with girl-boys and others sexually abnormal by birth.”
Sam Smith, Singer
“It wasn’t until I had to sit in interviews every day and tell people my story again and again and again that I realised this narrative that was being created was only a small fraction of who I was.”
Bimini Bon Boulash, Drag Artist
“I love accepting myself for all of those things that I thought were wrong when I was younger, being able to play with my gender boundaries, and really stay true to that. I wish I’d done it younger.”
Shea Couleé, Drag Artist
“Once I started to use drag as gender performance, to study and understand my identity through that, I feel now that being a gender non-binary person occupying drag spaces is freeing.”
Ancient Roman Gender Non-Conforming Priests Of Cybele, The Galli
“The ‘girls’ were his troop of eunuchs who began dancing in delight, raising a dissonant clamour… they prepared to do their rounds, dressing in bright array… daubing their cheeks with rouge, and highlighting their eyes.” – Apuleius, describing the Galli in ‘The Golden Ass’.
Note: This list is not exhaustive, and some of the historical language may not reflect the attitudes of today. However, it’s important to represent historical figures as faithfully as possible, as well as note their impact on the community today.
