Agender

The agender flag by Salem.

* Pangender (being all genders, having an infinite gender, or similar definitions)
* Pancomgender (being all genders except for identities on the agender spectrum)

**Agender** is a gender identity which is most commonly defined as being genderless (i.e. having no gender, or experiencing a lack of gender). It is also sometimes described as:

* An identity which exists completely outside the categories of "male" and "female," without necessarily lacking gender entirely.
* Being gender neutral, or having a neutral gender.
* Having an undefinable gender.
* Rejecting gender as a concept, or feeling that it isn't personally relevant to oneself.
* Being gender apathetic, and not having any strong identification with gender as a result.[*source?*]

It is possible for some agender people to feel a partial connection to other genders; these people may potentially identify under the demigender or multigender umbrellas.

## Etymology

*A-* is a prefix meaning "not," "without," or "lacking". When combined with "gender," it etymologically means "not gendered," "without gender," or "lacking gender."

## History

The agender label was first documented in the year 2000, on a forum called UseNet. It was used in reference to religion, with the statement “God is amorphous, agender, [...] so image can’t be a physical or gender or sexual thing.”

The first instance of the word being used in reference to people was also recorded on UseNet, five years later, on July 20, 2005. It was stated, “cultures can have transgender, agender, and hypergender individuals.”

## Distinction

### Nonbinary

***Main article:*** *Nonbinary*

Nonbinary is an umbrella term for gender identities which do not follow the gender binary. This includes people who are simultaneously men and women, people who are somewhere in between, people who are neither, people whose gender is fluid, and anyone else who is not *always*, *solely*, and *completely* a man or woman. Nonbinary people may identify with manhood, masculinity, womanhood, and/or femininity in some capacity, or may not identify with any of those things. The nonbinary label can also be used as a standalone identity.

While agender people are included under the nonbinary umbrella, not all nonbinary people are agender, and not all agender people claim the nonbinary label. Nonbinary people may experience manhood and womanhood simultaneously, experience something in between those genders, or have another gendered experience that isn't encompassed by genderlessness or neutrality.

## Flag

The agender flag was designed by Salem on February 18, 2014. They designed the flag with the intent of creating greater visibility for the agender community, as well as reclaiming pride in their identity. The black and white stripes represent the absence of gender. Grey represents partial absence of gender, such as in the case of demigender people. The green stripe represents experiences of gender which are unrelated to manhood and womanhood. It was chosen due to it being the inverse of purple, which is the combination of blue and pink (colors commonly representing men and women, respectively).

## Symbol

There are multiple agender symbols, many of which bear similarity to the general prohibition sign (🛇). The origins of these symbols are unclear.

A common agender symbol is a circle with a horizontal line running through the center (⊖). Another agender symbol is identical to this, with the addition of a vertical line extending from the top of the circle.

The transpluto symbol (∅) is also sometimes used as an agender symbol. It is a circle with a diagonal line running through it. The lower end of the line is typically on the left side, while the higher end of the line is on the right. The line also typically extends slightly outside the circle.

Another agender symbol is a simple circle, with no additional lines. This is less popular than other agender symbols, due to the fact that is can also represent people who are asexual and/or aromantic. In this sense, it may be considered a general a-spec symbol.

## Gallery

The agender symbol (⊖) (no tail)The agender symbol (with a tail)The transpluto agender symbolThe a- symbol
## Notes

1. ↑ This is not to be confused with the transplutonian symbol, also known as the pluto or transpluto symbol.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Hardell, Ash. *The ABC's of LGBT+*. Mango Media Inc., 2016. ISBN 9781633534087.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Lane, S. Nicole (2021-01-17). What Is Genderqueer?. Verywell Health. Archived from the original on December 22, 2022.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Trans and Intersex Glossary. OULGBTQ+ Society. Archived from the original on July 2, 2023.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 PFLAG National Glossary of Terms. PFLAG. Archived from the original on December 22, 2022.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Ferguson, Sian. What Does It Mean to Be Agender?. healthline. Archived from the original on December 22, 2022.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Ferguson, Sian (2022-05-16). What’s the Difference Between Agender and Nonbinary Identities?. PsychCentral. Archived from the original on December 22, 2022.
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Gender Expansive, Genderqueer, Gender Nonconforming (GE, GI). IT GETS BETTER PROJECT. Archived from the original on December 22, 2022.
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Agender (English). The Trans Language Primer. Archived from the original on December 22, 2022.
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Agender Definition & Meaning. Merriam-Webster. Archived from the original on December 22, 2022.
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Papisova, Vera (2016-01-20). What It Means to Identify as Agender. Teen Vogue. Archived from the original on December 22, 2022.
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 them (2018-08-07). What Does It Mean to Be Agender?. them. Archived from the original on December 22, 2022.
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 agender, adj.. Oxford Dictionary. Archived from the original on December 22, 2022.
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 13.6 13.7 13.8 Sotska, Julia (2022-11-09). Agender - What is it? What does it mean?. Taimi. Archived from the original on December 22, 2022.
14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 Terms to Know. Out Front Theatre Company. Archived from the original on September 29, 2023.
15. ↑ GenderGP (2021-04-22). What is Agender? Finding Out I’m Agender. GenderGP. Archived from the original on December 22, 2022.
16. ↑ an-. Dictionary.com.
17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Nonbinary Definition & Meaning. Merriam-Webster. Archived from the original on December 22, 2022.
18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Frequently Asked Questions about Transgender People. National Center for Transgender Equality (2016-07-09). Archived from the original on December 22, 2022.
19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Transgender People. GLAAD. Archived from the original on October 22, 2021.
20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Non-Binary (English). The Trans Language Primer. Archived from the original on December 22, 2022.
21. ↑ Agender Flag. Majestic Mess. Archived from the original on June 8, 2019.
22. ↑ majesticmesses (2018-12-16). Interview: Creator of the Agender Flag. Majestic Mess. Archived from the original on June 8, 2019.
23. ↑ Transpluto Astrology Symbol. Symbolikon.