Non-Binary 101

In the gender spectrum, the traditional ones in most cultures are male and female (there have been several cultures that identified multiple genders beyond these two traditionally as well), however for a lot of people their gender doesn't fit perfectly with either the male or female categorization, they may experience it as being somewhere on a spectrum between the both or completely separate from the male-female binary line, and "non-binary" is an umbrella label used to describe the gender of all such people

Generally, trans* as an umbrella term includes non-binary people and all people whose gender does not match that which was assumed at birth based on anatomy, etc. However some non binary people do not associate themselves with a trans label, and this is especially prevalent amongst those that don't transition medically or socially or legally

Transgender people can be male or female or non binary on the gender spectrum, and so you have trans men, trans women and then their non binary counterparts trans masculine and trans feminine people

So non binary trans people perceive their gender to be outside the male-female binary and usually take steps toward transitioning & expressing themselves for who they are, going with a lot of the same or similar things as binary trans people but with differences in desired outcomes and direction, and they may pick or opt out of things based on what they know to be right for them

Non binary is a broad umbrella label and encompasses a wide variety of gender identities, expressions and presentations. Some identities include agender (people who do not experience any gender), demi-gender (people who partly identify with another gender eg demi-girl, demi-boy), gender fluid/flux (people whose gender identity varies over time or in particular situations), etc

Some people also use a binary male/female identity along with non-binary, especially when they experience their gender to be close to the binary and to fit in better with this deeply binary society. If you feel it helps you be yourself more authentically or express yourself more freely, you're more than welcome to use it.

Other topics under Gender Identity

 * Resources on the basics of all things Trans*
 * A guide to questioning your gender
 * Medical Transition in India