title
PROPOSED RESOLUTION
RECOGNIZING INTERNATIONAL NON-BINARY PEOPLE’S DAY
WHEREAS, International Non-Binary People’s Day takes place annually on July 14th each year, and celebrates and raises awareness of non-binary people, who do not identify within the traditional gender binary; and
WHEREAS, initiated in 2012 by Katje Van Loon, 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 2018 Gender-Expansive Youth Report revealed that non-binary youth are about half as likely to be out to various people in their lives compared to trans boys and girls, often because their identities are invalidated for being neither exclusively ‘boy’ or ‘girl’; and
WHEREAS, recent reports from the Pew Research Center indicate that several states have passed legislation that restrict 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, according to The Human Rights Campaign’s 2023 report, The Epidemic of Violence Against the Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Community in the United States, the number of hate crimes based on gender identity has continued to increase, going up by over 32% from 2021 to 2022; 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 14th as International Non-Binary Day; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that suitable copies be given to local organizations serving the non-binary and transgender community.
end