Janelle Monáe Appears to Come out as Gender Non-Binary on Twitter

After admitting she's pansexual, Janelle Monáe now confirms she's nonbinary. Fans had mixed reactions.

Janelle Monáe has confirmed that she is nonbinary. The singer who once confessed she's pansexual is learning more about herself and now identifies outside the gender binary.

Janelle made the announcement via a tweet in response to a meme. By way of a simple hashtag, she revealed, "#IAmNonBinary" and caused fans to react.

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE NONBINARY

In the meme she retweeted to accompany her admission, the question “Are you a boy or girl?” was raised. The response was, “I’m an experience. The meme was originally posted by Twitter user, @camrynieroway who captioned it, “There is nothing better than living outside the gender binary. #IAmNonbinary.”

“I just don't get y so many ppl nowadays want us to lie to ourselves in order to conform to their truth."

According to a feature on Transequality.org, nonbinary is the term often used for people who don’t identify as either a man or a woman. It is what singer Sam Smith also relates to. In September, the crooner requested fans to use the “they” or “them” pronoun in reference to them. Meanwhile, Janelle has yet to make the same request.

ON BEING PANSEXUAL

Janelle first alerted fans about her sexuality when she opened up in an interview with Rolling Stone and revealed she was pansexual. As such, she admitted she was attracted to people regardless of gender orientation. She said she first thought she was bisexual until she read about pansexuality and learned that she related to it more.

The “The ArchAndroid” hitmaker also previously disclosed to the London Evening Standard that she only dates “androids,” referring to the new “other.”

MIXED REACTIONS

Fans respected Janelle’s latest admission and praised her for it. Many admired her for speaking her truth and expressed their support. “Thank you for being a voice to those finding their own,” one wrote.

However, there were also those who expressed confusion and distaste for her admission.

“I just don't get y so many ppl nowadays want us to lie to ourselves in order to conform to their truth. If anything, don't tell the world....just be,” another person expressed.

OPENING DOORS FOR OTHER NONBINARY INDIVIDUALS

But if anything, Janelle’s admission opened up a discussion about the nonbinary orientation which many are not fully aware of. This should open more doors for others who may still be confused about their gender and see this as something they may also be able to relate to.

It is estimated that between 25-35% of the transgender population is nonbinary though this is only based on limited research. With more celebrities opening up about being nonbinary, this number could increase in time.