Non-binary

**Non-binary**, sometimes shortened to NB or enby, is a term to describe a person that is neither male or female. Not to be confused with gender non-conforming, it comes from male and female genders being a "binary" system, meaning that there are two; therefore, someone who is neither is not a binary gender. It is used as both a gender identity and as a "catch-all" term for genders not in the binary. The white stripe on the transgender flag includes representation for non-binary people, among others.

## Alternating gender incongruity syndrome

In 2012, a study was done regarding gender fluidity, in which the term "alternating gender incongruity" was proposed. The study hypothesized its existence due to hemispheric switching and the corresponding callosal suppression of sex-appropriate body maps. The study also found a high rate of bipolar disorder amongst the individuals in the study.

## History

### Terminology

*See also: Non-binary history#Terminology*

### Flags

#### Marilyn Roxie genderqueer flag

   Marilyn Roxie, a genderqueer individual, originally published their flag design in 2010,  with the final 3.0 version in 2011. Roxie's flag was made with the general nonbinary community in mind: "The three colors are not meant to indicate that any of these identities are entirely separate or opposites of one another conceptually; they are all interrelated as well as key concepts in their own right, and there are more concepts and variation of gender and sexuality present that tie into genderqueer identities than can be listed here. The purpose of the flag is to help create visibility for the genderqueer community and related identities."

#### Kye Rowan non-binary flag

Some non-binary people were dissatisfied with the association of only genderqueer-identified individuals with the Marilyn Roxie flag, while others felt uncomfortable with using the term "genderqueer", as *queer* is used as a homophobic slur, amongst other reasons. To correct this, in 2014, **Kye Rowan**, known as Tumblr user **thejasmineelf-blog** (then **thejasmineelf**) created several flags for the general non-binary community and polled them for the preferred version. The flag shown above, in the description, won the vote. The flag was made to be used alongside the genderqueer flag and not to replace it.

On the symbolism of the flag, Kye says: "Yellow is representative of being outside the binary, as it is a color often used to distinguish something as its own. White is the photological presence of all color/light. This is to represent people who are many or all genders. Purple represents the fluidity and multiplicity of many gender experiences, the uniqueness and flexibility of nonbinary people, as well as representing those whose gender experiences include being of or between female and male. Black is the photological absence of color/light. This is to represent agender or genderlessness."

## Sources

1. ↑ https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/20/transgender-flag\_n\_2166742.html
2. ↑ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mehy.2012.01.041
3. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20150904031547/http://marilynroxie.com/post/675338743/the-genderqueer-flag-is-a-new-design-created-by
4. ↑ https://marilynroxie.com/GENDERQUEER-FLAG
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 https://web.archive.org/web/20190604080020/https://thejasmineelf.tumblr.com/flagfaq
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 https://web.archive.org/web/20220619230619/https://thejasmineelf-blog.tumblr.com/post/77030085591/hi-there-i-saw-your-post-about-making-a-non
7. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20190601000000\*/http://thejasmineelf.tumblr.com/post/76929910941/a-call-was-put-out-for-a-nonbinary-flag-that-is