Jennifer Lopez and her daughter Emme sang several songs at the artist’s show last year. In the middle of her performance, the actress also introduced Emme, who is 14 years old, and in dialogue she called her “elle” or “they”, two pronouns used by those who do not identify with either gender. or feminine. , that is, non-binary people.

The news, published in various media around the world, caused an increase in inquiries about what non-binary gender is. Various referents agree that non-binary is one of the most invisible identities, and one that attracts more ignorance. In fact, many prejudices and false beliefs are associated with this.

Here are some clues to learn more about this person:

What is it like to be a non-binary person? “The easiest way to explain to someone is: I am a person. I am not a man, I am not a woman. It means being non-binary,” explains Merida Robin Masman, a young activist in non-binary spaces and a member of the group Suiendo Humanes.

In other words, non-binary people are those who do not necessarily identify as male or female. They can change their gender, be both, neither, or others that break the binary. The fan is huge. In this context, Merida explains that non-binary is an umbrella that covers many identities and feelings, a spectrum that runs from what is labeled as female to what is labeled as male. “A lot of people think that’s unique to our genre: that’s how everyone feels about it,” Merida sums up.

Is this a rare individual? No. According to referents within the collective, there are more and more people (especially young people) who identify with this identity.

Do all non-binary people have the same sexual orientation? No. Adrián Helien, coordinator of the Attention Group for Transgender People (Gapet) at the Durand Hospital in Argentina, explained that being outside the male/female binary does not mean having a specific sexual orientation: the same rainbow of gender diversity must be correlated in the diversity of sexual orientations. “For these people, it’s common to question their sexual orientation outside of the heterosexual/homosexual binary. A person can be homosexual, heterosexual, bisexual, pansexual or even asexual, they can have relationships with men, women or trans people. It’s about establishing an affective relationship that begins to break down the heteronormative binary of sexual orientation,” says Helien.

What pronouns do they use? For non-binary people, it is usually associated with a neuter pronoun: “elle”. However, this is a very personal choice, as others identify with masculine or feminine pronouns. Furthermore, the use of pronouns is not unique or static, but may change or include more than one.

Is androgynous synonymous with non-binary? No. Gender expression (that is, how we present ourselves to the world through our clothes, gestures, names, etc.) has nothing to do with gender identity (how we perceive ourselves) or our sexual orientation (where our physical or emotional attraction lies). For this reason, for example, the fact that a person wears a beard does not mean that he identifies with the male gender; or if she wears a dress that she perceives herself as a woman. In her case, Merida says her wardrobe is a “mix of genres.” While some non-binary people may have an androgynous expression, others may not. “There are those who have a gender expression that is closer to what is considered masculine or feminine in society, but the range of possibilities in the way of self-expression is very large,” says Merida.