International Non-Binary People’s Day takes place annually on 14 July each year and celebrates and raises awareness of non-binary people, who do not identify within the traditional gender binary. This takes place during non-binary awareness week from Monday 8 July until Sunday 14 July 2024.
Why 14 of July?
The date, celebrated since 2012, was chosen as it falls between International Women's Day on 8 March and International Men's Day on 19 November.
What does non-binary mean?
The definition provided by Stonewall (Britain’s leading charity for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans equality) is: “Non-binary is an umbrella term for people whose gender identity doesn’t sit comfortably with ‘man’ or ‘woman’. Non-binary identities are varied and can include people who identify with some aspects of binary identities, while others reject them entirely.
“Non-binary people can feel that their gender identity and gender experience involves being both a man and a woman, or that it is fluid, in between, or completely outside of that binary.”
DMU is proud to support gender non-confirming staff and students and is a Stonewall top 100 employer.
Shushma Patel, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Student Experience and Dean of the Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Media said: “International Non-Binary People’s Day is an important date to raise awareness of this often-marginalised community. At DMU we are proud, and support our non-binary staff and students and we encourage everyone to be their authentic selves by providing an inclusive place to work and learn.”
Protecting and supporting Trans, gender fluid and non-binary staff and students
You can find out more about DMU’s commitment to supporting our staff and students to live in their affirmed gender(s) (or lack thereof), regardless of that which was assigned at birth by reading our policy on Protecting and supporting Trans, gender fluid and non-binary staff and students.
Guidance and what can I do to support
You can access the guidance to support trans and non-binary staff and students, and also find a guide on how to be a good LGBTQ+ ally. Both guides include the importance of pronouns, using a person’s preferred pronouns is an inclusive way of recognising that person’s gender identity. You can also find out more about pronouns here.
You can also find a link to the LGBTQ+ inclusion in the workplace paper and find out how you can be a better ally and support LGBTQ+ colleagues at DMU.
To find out how you can better support non-binary people, you can also access Stonewall’s 10 ways to step up as an ally to non-binary people.
Join the LGBTQ+ society for students
At DMU, we also have student societies that can offer a forum and support for LGBTQ+ students and allies.
For details on how to join, please click here.
How to report homophobia, biphobia and transphobia and support available
DMU’s No Space for Hate project reinforces our commitment to challenge inappropriate behaviours and provide practical support to students who are victims, survivors or witnesses of hate or harassment. This comprises of a policy, website, anonymous reporting tool, a specialised service which outlines support and reporting options, specialist staff within Security and new mandatory training for staff involved in the disciplinary process.
Posted on Tuesday 9 July 2024