In honor of International Nonbinary People's Day!
July 14 is International Nonbinary People's Day, a day for raising awareness and organizing around the issues faced by nonbinary people around the world, and in honor of the occasion, here are some notable celebrities that are helping to make the world a more open and accepting place for others to be visible and be themselves!
Nikki Hiltz
The champion middle-distance runner celebrated Transgender Day of Visibility back in April by announcing on Instagram that they identify as trans and nonbinary. Hiltz had previously come out as gay while in college and has been a visible and affirming presence for gay athletes in the past. She hopes her revelation will help bring greater visibility and affirmation to trans athletes afraid of living truthfully and openly.
"Hi, I'm Nikki and I'm transgender," Hiltz wrote on Instagram. "That means I don't identify with the gender I was assigned at birth."
Hilitz, who uses she/they pronouns, went on to politely explain and define their gender identity for followers.
"The word I use currently to describe my gender is non-binary," they continued. "The best way I can explain my gender is as fluid."
Courtney Stodden
The model and reality TV personality, who rose to online infamy at the age of 16 back in 2011 after they married then 51-year-old The Green Mile actor Doug Hutchison in a Las Vegas ceremony, came out as nonbinary in an April Instagram post. The now 26-year-old Washington state native and former beauty pageant competitor shared with their followers a heartfelt message about how they use they/them pronouns now, and how they felt like they didn't really fit in anywhere while they were growing up.
"They/them/theirs. I don't identify as she or her," Stodden wrote. "I've never felt like I ever fit in anywhere."
They continued: "I was bullied horribly in school because I was different. The other girls never understood me. It got so bad that my mom pulled me out of school. And still, I don't fit in. I never really connected with anyone my age. My spirit is fluid with a kaleidoscope of color."
Trisha Paytas
Internet personality Trisha Paytas opened up about their gender identity and publicly came out to the world as nonbinary in an April video posted to their YouTube channel. The infamous vlogger, mukbanger, and former Celebrity Big Brother contestant credited popular social video app TikTok and the young, upcoming generation of creators -- specifically Generation Z -- with helping them learn more about the nonbinary identity and how it feels most right for them.
"I'm nonbinary and I have to give credit to TikTok and Gen-Z," they said. "That seems like the perfect label for me."
When a fan on Twitter asked which pronouns they use now that they've come out as nonbinary, Trisha confirmed that they use they/them pronouns now.
Demi Lovato
In a March interview with Joe Rogan on his popular podcast, the Joe Rogan Experience, the Grammy-nominated singer, who has been publicly open about being queer and talking about their sexuality (and their attraction to both men and women) in the past, was comfortable enough to label themselves as pansexual.
"I was engaged to a man last year," Lovato told Rogan when asked about their prior engagement to actor Max Ehrich and whether or not they want to have children in the future. "I totally thought I'd be married, maybe pregnant by now. And that's not the case."
They continued:
"I also don't know if I'm going to end up with a guy, so I can't really see myself maybe getting pregnant. I'm so fluid now -- and a part of the reason why I am so fluid is because I was super closeted off."
"You mean sexually fluid?" Rogan asked. "You like girls? You like boys?"
"Yeah, anything, really" Lovato responded.
"What do they call that? Like pansexual or something like that?" Rogan asked.
"Yeah, pansexual," Lovato confirmed.
Then, in a series of tweets they posted in May, they talked openly about their journey with their gender, identifying as nonbinary, and how they now use they/them pronouns.
"Every day we wake up, we are given another opportunity and chance to be who we want and wish to be. I've spent the majority of my life growing in front of all of you...you've seen the good, the bad, and everything in between," Demi wrote. "Not only has my life been a journey for myself, I was also living for those on the other side of the cameras."
They continued:
"Today is a day I'm so happy to share more of my life with you all: I am proud to let you know that I identify as nonbinary and will officially be changing my pronouns to they/them moving forward."
Lio Tipton
Model-turned-actor Lio Tipton opened up about their sexuality and gender identity and came out as queer and nonbinary in a moving Instagram picture in June.
Tipton (who finished third in Cycle 11 of Tyra Bank's long-running reality competition America's Next Top Model and who co-starred alongside Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling in the 2011 romantic comedy Crazy, Stupid, Love) shared that their pronouns are now they/them, and that they proudly identify as a queer, nonbinary member of the LGBTQ+ community.
Hikaru Utada
One of the most successful pop singers in Japan in the late '90s and '00s who became internationally famous for singing the theme songs to Kingdom Hearts video games like the iconic "Simple and Clean," came out as nonbinary during a June livestream.
"It's the month of June, and I'm non-binary, so happy Pride Month!" they said.
Hugh Sheridan
While celebrating making the cover of DNA magazine, Australian actor Hugh Sheridan came out as nonbinary in during Pride Month.
"I AM still a human (non-binary/bi/me/Hughman)," they wrote on Instagram. "But I'm in a monogamous relationship with another human, who I love. I don't accept a label 'cause it limits me...if you want it; take it. I chose zero labels for no other reason except the exclusion, limitations, separation, I believe are all one, deeeeep down."
They continued, with encouragement for others who want to explore their identity. "Why choose?!!" they asked. "Be you. Be true. Be free: to BE, to JUST BE...you, a human, same as me."
Sheridan had previously come out in 2020 when they told Stellar magazine that they have been with both men and women, but "I believe labels are for clothes, not for people."
Emma Corrin
Though they didn't make any explicit statements about their specific identity, the Golden Globe-winning actor (who portrayed Princess Diana in Netflix's beloved drama series The Crown) updated their pronouns on Instagram to she/they and shared photos of them taken by artist David-Simon Dayan wearing a homemade binder (compression garments often worn by trans and nonbinary people to alleviate chest dysphoria).
Corrin captioned the picture with, "some time before I bought my first binder, messing around with @sirdavidsimon, we used boxing wrap, thanks for capturing this with me, very intimate, very new, very cool."
"It's all a journey right," she continued. "Lots of twists and turns and change and that's ok! Embrace it."
Corrin previously came out as queer back in April when they labeled themselves "ur fave queer bride" during a photo shoot for the U.K.'s Pop magazine.
