Singer/Songwriter Sam Smith took to Instagram to announce their embrace of gender-neutral pronouns. Instead of being referred to as “he/him” Smith would now prefer to be called “they/them”. In a sense, the post can be called their “coming out” as non-binary.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B1HjqOlANeB/
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Smith explained in the post: “I’ve decided I am changing my pronouns to THEY/THEM. After a lifetime of being at war with my gender I’ve decided to embrace myself for who I am, inside and out.”
“I’m so excited and privileged to be surrounded by people that support me in this decision but I’ve been very nervous about announcing this because I care too much about what people think but f*ck it!” they continue.
Smith acknowledges that this may be confusing for some, and mistakes might be made, but all they ask is for people to try.
“I understand there will be many mistakes and misgendering but all I ask is you please please try. I hope you can see me like I see myself now. Thank you,” they write.
“P.s. I am at no stage just yet to eloquently speak at length about what it means to be non-binary but I can’t wait for the day that I am. So for now I just want to be VISIBLE and open,” they express.
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To identify as non-binary means to be genderless or non-gendered. Simply put, it is feeling as if you are neither exclusively male or female. Rather, you are somewhere along the binary or even outside of it.
LGBTQ+ individuals and charities have been lauding Smith’s move, saying that visibility for non-binary individuals is so important right now.
What do you think about this?
