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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
RECOGNIZING INTERNATIONAL NON-BINARY PEOPLE’S DAY
WHEREAS, International Non-Binary People’s Day takes place annually on July 14th each year, to celebrate and raise awareness of non-binary people, who do not identify within the traditional gender binary; and
WHEREAS, initiated in 2012 by Katje Van Loon, the International Non-Binary People’s Day’s date was chosen as it falls between International Women’s Day on March 8th, and International Men’s Day on November 19th; and
WHEREAS, The Human Rights Campaign defines non-binary as individuals who may identify as both male and female, as somewhere along the spectrum between these genders, or as entirely outside of traditional gender categories; and
WHEREAS, it remains important to note the existence of non-binary peoples throughout history and amidst different cultures such as the Muxe’s community from Mexico, the Indigenous Two-Spirit community, and the Māhū community in Native Hawaiian and Tahitian cultures; and
WHEREAS, The Human Right’s Campaign’s 2024 Report on the Experiences of Parents of Transgender and Non-binary Children revealed that over half (55%) of parents and caregivers said their child was bullied due to their gender identity or expression in the last year; and
WHEREAS, several states have passed legislation that restricts the rights of transgender and non-binary individuals, including limitations on restroom usage based on assigned birth sex, participation in sports based on gender identity, and restricting health care to trans youth who seek to transition; and
WHEREAS, in fact the Supreme Court of the United States’ recent rulings in West Virginia v. B.P.J. and Little v. Hecox upheld laws in Idaho and West Virginia that ban trans athletes from women’s sports; and
WHEREAS, the federal executive branch has further restricted such rights, introducing executive orders which redefine gender as a strict binary; and
WHEREAS, according to The Human Rights Campaign’s 2024 report, The Epidemic of Violence Against the Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Community in the United States, 2023 saw the highest number of anti-LGB and anti-trans and gender-expansive hate crimes reported by the FBI to date; and
WHEREAS, that report also found that over 2,800 hate crimes were recorded against LGBTQ+ people in 2023, accounting for almost one in four (22.8%) of all hate crimes recorded that year; and
WHEREAS, GLAAD reports that of the 1,042 anti-LGBTQ incidents tracked in the U.S. in 2025, 51% of incidents targeted transgender and gender non-conforming people, a 10% increase from 2024; and
WHEREAS, the UCLA Williams Institute reports LGBT people are nine times more likely to experience violent hate crimes than non-LGBT people.; and
WHEREAS, the nonbinary communities are experiencing threats to the availability of reputable transgender care guidelines due to the Federal Trade Commission suing the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH); and
WHEREAS, now, more than ever, it remains vital that we continue to recognize and uplift our non-binary communities in the wake of states rolling back individuals’ right to health care and freedom of expression; and
WHEREAS, Cook County remains dedicated to the continual embracement and recognition of our non-binary siblings and all their invaluable contributions to our communities;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board hereby does hereby reaffirm its commitment to the transgender and non-binary community and declares July 14, 2026, as International Non-Binary Day.
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