NONBINARY PEOPLE’S DAY
Honoring the nonbinary community today (and every day)
Nearly 4 in 10 young Americans say they know someone who is nonbinary, 2X the rate of older adults. In sharp contrast to the wave of anti-LGBTQ bills and legislation that have targeted nonbinary individuals, younger people are much more likely to see gender and sexuality through a lens of acceptance. For instance, as Cassandra uncovered on our Gen Alpha: Generation Infinite Report, 84% of older Gen Alphas (8-12 year olds) say that a person’s pronouns should be respected. So with tomorrow dedicated to Nonbinary People's Day, Cassandra joins others to increase visibility and celebrate the projects, people, and organizations who are making a difference for this community.
GENDER SPECTRUM
Gender Spectrum is a national nonprofit committed to the health and well-being of gender-diverse Gen Alphas and Zs. This group provides support for educators, parents and health providers through education and guidance on legal, medical, and mental health questions and training. In conjunction with outside partners, they connect young people to similar spaces where they can be seen and validated for who they are. Gender Spectrum regularly hosts educational events for both young people and parents, attracting participants from all 50 states and other countries.
— Rebecca, 25, MA (Cassandra Collective)
BOTH&
Both& is a one-of-a-kind clothing brand coming from the mind of former University of New Mexico student Finnegan Shepard. Born out of an epiphany during the pandemic, Shepard saw the need first-hand in his mirror when there just wasn’t anything right for him while recovering from top surgery in 2020. Pitching the brand as the missing piece for so many people identifying as transmasculine, nonbinary, and gender non-conforming, Shepard surveyed and interviewed thousands on what their biggest struggles were when it came to identity and clothing, and so developed a range of high-quality, stylish essentials empowering gender identity and representation.
— Melissa, 23, FL (Cassandra Collective)
SAMEER JHA
Growing up, Sameer Jha enjoyed playing with dolls and wearing pink clothes at school but had a difficult time finding acceptance by his classmates in middle school. Jha decided that children like him shouldn’t have to experience bullying when they go to school. At the age of 14, he founded The Empathy Alliance to help make schools safer for students regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. His efforts have impacted more than 35,000 students and 42 schools in the United States, and since starting The Empathy Alliance, Jha has helped the organization expand to include nearly 500 volunteers. Today at 21, Jha continues his advocacy work while finishing up his degree at Stanford and was named a laureate of the Young Activists Summit last year in Geneva that featured young individuals working for an inclusive and equal world.