Janelle Monáe just came out as non-binary

Congrats are in order: Janelle Monáe, the pansexual musician known for 2018 album Dirty Computer and for film appearances in Hidden Figures and Moonlight just opened up about identifying as non-binary. Speaking on the Red Table Talk last night, Monáe said: "I’m non-binary, so I just don’t see myself as a woman, solely."

Previously, Monáe retweeted a meme in 2020 and used the hashtag #IAmNonbinary, but later told Variety: "When I retweeted I’m nonbinary, it was “I’m not binary day,” and so I did a hashtag to show support to the community." This just goes to show, it's important to leave people to come out on their own terms without making assumptions.

Janelle Monáe isn't the only one identifying as non-binary. Now, more and more people are waking up to the idea that gender isn't a binary: it's a spectrum. Far from having two fixed genders, there's actually a wealth of experiences in between: from gender fluidity to being agender. And like you probably already know, non-binary is the umbrella term we use to describe these identities and although it's a relatively new term, non-binary people have always existed in some form or another. While there are sadly still plenty of misconceptions out there, there are now more non-binary celebrities than ever shining a light on the community and bringing much-needed representation to the music industry and the big and small screens. Want to find out more? Keep reading for our round-up of the trailblazing non-binary celebs you should know.

Musician, actor and author Janelle Monáe (pronouns not yet clarified) came out as non-binary during an episode of Red Table Talk, the online talk show series hosted by Willow Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith and Adrienne Banfield-Norris on 20 April 2022.

"I’m non-binary, so I just don’t see myself as a woman, solely. I feel all of my energy. I feel like God is so much bigger than the 'he' or the 'she, and if I am from God, I am everything. I am everything. But I will always, always stand with women. I will always stand with Black women. But I just see everything that I am. Beyond the binary."

Sara Ramirez (they/them) is best known for their long-running role as Dr. Callie Torries on Grey's Anatomy and playing the divisive Che Diaz on And Just Like That....

"In me is the capacity to be Girlish boy Boyish girl Boyish boy Girlish girl All Neither#nonbinary," they said, coming out as non-binary via an Instagram post in August 2020.

One of Queer Eye's fab five, JVN (they/he/she) first opened up in depth about their non-binary identity to Out in 2019.

"The older I get, the more I think that I’m nonbinary — I’m gender nonconforming. Like, some days I feel like a man, but then other days I feel like a woman. [...] Any opportunity I have to break down stereotypes of the binary, I am down for it, I’m here for it."

Appearing in blockbusters like The Hunger Games and critical successes like The Hate U Give, Amandla Stenberg (she/they) has been representing non-binary identity on the big screen.

"They/them makes me feel comfortable but I know that the media and the general populace that follows me will critique it/not understand which makes me feel sad and almost more uncomfortable. So I guess she/her for now," wrote Amandla in 2016, replying to fan questions about their pronouns on Tumblr.

Alejandra Ghersi Rodríguez (she/it/they), better known as Arca, is a music producer who's worked for the likes of Kanye, FKA Twigs, Frank Ocean and Björk. And alongside her solo work (she's released a whopping ten albums), she's modelled for the likes of Byredo and Calvin Klein and racked up 560,000 followers on Instagram.

"I see my gender identity as non-binary, and I identify as a trans Latina woman," said Alejandra, speaking to i-D in 2020.

Love Sex Education? Of course you do – which means you'll likely already be familiar with Dua Saleh (they/he/xe), a musician and actor who appeared in the third season of the hit Netflix show as Cal.

"hey I know I’m already out and I love the pronouns that I use they/them/theirs & he/him/his but I’ve also been referring to myself with the neopronouns xe/xyr/xim #NationalComingOutDay," they wrote on Twitter in August 2020.

With one million Instagram followers, Alok Vaid-Menon (they/them) is a poet, author and Stanford grad sharing education around LGBTQIA+ issues and gender while advocating to #degenderfashion.

"Two people can look similar and be completely different genders. Gender is not what people look like to other people; it is what we know ourselves to be. No one else should be able to tell you who you are; that’s for you to decide," wrote Alok in their book Beyond the Gender Binary.

Actor and musician Ezra Miller (they/it/ze) has appeared in blockbuster projects like Fantastic Beasts and they've always been candid about their identity across gender, sexuality and polyamory.

"I don't identify as a man. I don't identify as a woman. I barely identify as a human," said Ezra to The Hollywood Reporter in 2018.

Elliot Page (he/they) Juno and Umbrella Academy actor came out as trans in December 2020. In his statement, he shared that his pronouns are "he/they" leading many to conclude that he is non-binary.

"I want to share with you that I am trans, my pronouns are he/they and my name is Elliot" he wrote on Instagram in 2020.

Model and Pose actor Indya Moore (they/them) opened up to former co-star MJ Rodriguez about their identity when speaking with L'Officiel Singapore.

"I'm non-binary but I don't really talk about it that much. I don't feel like people really are there yet for understanding it, which I don't mind, but I also acknowledge the way people see me as a woman," said Indya.

20-year-old Lachlan Watson (they/them) is best known for their role as Theo Putnam on Netflix's Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.

"As humans, our whole M.O. is being scared of what we don’t understand or can’t define," they explained to Elite Daily in 2019. "We like neat packages that we can unpack, and when someone doesn’t have that, we don’t know how to deal with it."

Winning Grammies, BRIT awards and even an Oscar, Sam Smith (they/them) is a force to be reckoned with. They also happen to be one of the most visible non-binary musicians in the charts today.

"I'm not male or female, I think I flow somewhere in between. It's all on the spectrum," said Sam, speaking in a March 2019 I Weigh episode with Jameela Jamil.

First coming to public attention with their role as Brandy Epps in Orange Is The New Black, in 2017 Asia Kate Dillon (they/them) went on to play one of the first non-binary characters in mainstream North American television with their role as Taylor Mason in Billions.

"Encountering Taylor for the first time really helped clarify that I didn’t need to change my body to be valid as a nonbinary person, and that 'they/them' pronouns are the right ones for me," Asia said in 2019, discussing the personal significance of their Billions character with W Magazine.

Does Demi Lovato (they/them) need any introduction? The singer, actor, podcaster and sex toy creator opened up about their non-binary identity for the first time in May 2021 on their podcast 4D With Demi Lovato.

“Over the past year-and-a-half, I've been doing some healing and self-reflective work. And through this work, I've had the revelation that I identify as non-binary,” Demi explained.

With IMDb credits including Netflix's Trinkets, a guest spot on Euphoria season one (rewatch! episode! seven!) and forthcoming DC film Black Adam, Quintessa Swindell (they/he) is one of Hollywood's rising non-binary stars.

"I think it's important to say that each and every queer and non-binary person is unique, and all of our experiences should be respected and celebrated in that same way," said Quintessa in an interview with GLAAD.

If you watched season two of Ru Paul's Drag Race UK you'll no doubt follow fan fave Bimini (they/them), who used their time on the show to raise awareness of non-binary identity.

“As humans, we are so complex, that having a binary to fit everyone into, whether it’s just male or female, doesn’t make sense, when there are seven billion plus people in the world," they said on the show, after speaking with fellow non-binary queen Ginny Lemon in the workroom.

Brigette Lundy-Paine (they/them) has appeared in Netflix's Atypical as well as Bill & Ted Face the Music (yep, that's the Bill & Ted sequel) alongside Keanu Reeves.

"I’m non-binary, always felt a lil bit boy, lil bit girl, lil bit neither," they wrote, coming out in a since-deleted Instagram post.

Model and actor Chella Man (he/him) has modelled for the likes of Gap and Calvin Klein and played the role of Jericho in Titans.

In November 2019, he shared a post on Instagram clarifying his non-binary identity. "I do not identify as a trans man. I identify as genderqueer/non-binary. My pronouns (as of now) are he/him," he wrote.

Musician and poet Kae Tempest (they/them) has been nominated for a BRIT and the Mercury Prize. In August 2020 they came out as non-binary via an Instagram post.

"I have tried to be what I thought others wanted me to be so as not to risk rejection. This hiding from myself has led to all kinds of difficulties in my life. And this is a first step towards knowing and respecting myself better,” they wrote.

Ruby Rose (they/she) became a universal heart-throb thanks to their role in Orange Is The New Black when their androgynous style made them a hit with fans.

"Gender fluidity is not really feeling like you're at one end of the spectrum or the other. For the most part, I definitely don't identify as any gender. I'm not a guy; I don't really feel like a woman" they explained to Elle in 2015.

Comedian and actor Liv Hewson (they/them) has appeared in Santa Clarita Diet and Lord of the Flies-esque drama Yellow Jackets and first came out as non-binary when they were 16. Now, the next phase of their career is about raising awareness of non-binary identity and experiences.

"People have a sort of preconception as to what being androgynous means and what non-binary people have to look like. There just isn’t one way to be non-binary. There isn’t one way to play around with gender and there’s no wrong way to look and be non-binary," they said, speaking to Gay Star News in 2019.