What is non-binary? Meaning explained, what are Demi Lovato’s pronouns - which celebrities are non-binary

While many people identify as either male or female, not everyone feels that they can fit into either of these two categories.

Non-binary is a term used to describe someone who feel that their gender “cannot be defined within the margins of gender binary” and instead, experience their gender “in a way that goes beyond simply identifying as either a man or a woman” the LGBT Foundation says.

LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall defines non-binary as “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.”

While some non-binary people perfer the use of they/them pronouns, not all non-binary people use those pronouns exclusively. Some might use she/her or he/him pronouns (or a combination of both, or something else entirely), but they are still non-binary.

Who are some non-binary celebrities?

Singer Sam Smith came out as non-binary in 2019 with a social media post that read: “Today is a good day, so here goes. 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**k it!

“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.”

Jonathan Van Ness, from Netflix’s reboot of makeover show Queer Eye, also came out as non-binary in 2019.

Van Ness feels comfortable using any pronouns, like he/him, they/them and she/her. In their Twitter bio, Van Ness has written “They/He/She”.

Also in 2019, star of Atypical and The Glass Castle on Netflix, Brigette Lundy-Paine came out as non-binary in an Instagram post.

They wrote: “I’m non-binary, always felt a lil bit boy, lil bit girl, lil bit neither. using they/them as of late n it feels right. scary [as f**] to come out n been rly putting this off. But I feel I owe it to myself and to all of us who struggle [with] gender. If you’re NB comment and celebrate yourself! u r beautiful and u r whole.”

Other non-binary celebrities include Nico Tortorella and their partner Bethany C Meyers, Amandla Stenberg, Asia Kate Dillon, Bex Taylor-Klaus, Indya Moore, Lachlan Watson, Janelle Monáe, Sara Ramirez and Liv Hewson.

In 2021, in the second season of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, stars Bimini Bon Boulash and Ginny Lemon moved viewers after they had a very open and heartfelt discussion about being non-binary in one episode of the show.

There are also a number of non-binary characters in film and TV, for example:

• Double Trouble in She-Ra and the Princess of Power
• Garnet in Steven Universe
• Hange Zoë in Attack on Titan
• The Adjudicator in John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum
• Crowley in Good Omens
• Ripley Lennox in Hollyoaks
• Taylor Mason in Billions
• Klaus Hargreeves in The Umbrella Academy

Is Demi Lovato non-binary?

Taking to Twitter in May 2021, Lovato published a thread of Tweets announcing that they were non-binary.

The singer published a video in which they introduce “4D with Demi Lovato”, their podcast series.

In the video, Lovato said: “I want to take this moment to share something very personal with you.

“Over the past year and a half, I’ve been doing some healing and self reflective work. Through this work, I’ve had the revelation that I identify as non-binary.

“With that said, I’ll officially be changing my pronouns to they/them.”

The singer goes on to explain that they feel this “best represents the fluidity [they] feel in [their] gender expression” and allows them to feel “most authentic”.

Lovato added that in the first episode of 4D with Demi Lovato, they were excited to share what this news means to them, and what it may look like to other people.

They said: “I want to make it clear that I’m still learning and coming into myself.

“I don’t claim to be an expert or a spokesperson.”

In the Twitter thread, Lovato also wrote: “I’m doing this for those out here that haven’t been able to share who they truly are with their loved ones. Please keep living in your truths and know I am sending so much love your way xox.”

Previously, Lovato also came out as pansexual, which is a sexual orientation that refers to someone who can find romantic or sexual attraction with anyone.

Sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression are all separate from one another.

In August 2022, Lovato made a new announcement regarding their pronouns, saying that they were using both they/them and she/her pronouns.

Speaking on The Spout podcast, Lovato said: “I’m such a fluid person when it comes to my gender, my sexuality, my music, my creativity.

“I’ve actually adopted the pronouns of she/her again.

“Especially last year, my energy was balanced in my masculine and feminine energy so that when I was faced with the choice of walking into a bathroom and it said ‘women’ and ‘men’, I didn’t feel like there was a bathroom for me because I didn’t feel necessarily like a woman. I didn’t feel like a man. I just felt like a human.”

Lovato continued: “Recently, I’ve been feeling more feminine, and so I’ve adopted ‘she/her’ again. But I think what’s important is, like, nobody’s perfect.

“Everyone messes up pronouns at some point, and especially when people are learning. It’s just all about respect.”

Even though Lovato is using she/her pronouns again, in addition to they/them, the singer still identifies as non-binary until they announce otherwise.