to access reliable resources. Some people also worry about being seen looking for information on non-binary and genderqueer identities, afraid of judgment from family, friends, or the public. Even practical things — like whether a service is online or in person, where it’s located, or if it even has enough funding to operate — can make a huge difference in whether people get the help they need. “There is a thing I am and it is non- binary. And if I use that label, I understand what that means. I have actually already been that without knowing the right label, and that’s actually how a lot of people perceive me to be as well.” - Insights from a non- binary participant. FOR NON-BINARY AND GENDERQUEER PEOPLE, FINDING THE RIGHT WAY TO ARTICULATE THEIR EXPERIENCES WAS LIFE-CHANGING. Before they had the language to describe their identity, it was incredibly difficult or impossible to search for information or even fully understand themselves. Some people argue that non-binary and genderqueer identities are a new thing, that’s not the case. These terms might be new, the experiences have always existed. A lot of people I spoke to said they rely heavily on community and peers to find information, leaning on intuition to figure out what information feels right to them. There’s no “one way” to be non-binary or genderqueer, and for many, embracing that ambiguity was both challenging and freeing. At the same time, they also talked about how frustrating it is to constantly have their identities questioned. As mentioned above, some didn’t feel trans, but they definitely weren’t cis either — this left them stuck in a weird middle ground where they struggled to feel valid.
the biggest need is usually information about gender itself — figuring out your own identity and learning how to navigate the world once you do. This research was about understanding the specific information needs of non-binary and genderqueer people in Ireland — what’s available, what’s missing, and what it’s actually like to live as a non-binary or genderqueer person here. THE NITTY GRITTY Between Summer 2023 and Autumn 2024, I interviewed nine information providers, including LGBTQIA+ organisations and librarians, to get a sense of what resources already exist. Then, I spoke with fifteen non-binary and genderqueer adults. Along with interviews, I had them write letters to their younger selves — essentially, the advice they wish they’d had. This gave a personal and meaningful insight into their experiences. After that, I spent months transcribing interviews (which felt endless, although listening to myself helped tackle some dysphoria). Once that was done, I anonymised everything and looked for patterns and themes in the data — standard for this kind of research. WHAT WE’VE LEARNED “I do think it has the potential for irrevocable harm on an individual… If you’re talking specifically around gender and the trans community, it’s such a hidden population that is so widely misunderstood and now there’s this kind of ongoing anti-trans rhetoric, particularly in the media and in other spaces as well, that you delimit the legitimate information that can actually enter into the community.” - Insights from an information provider. binary and genderqueer people usually come to them after they’ve already started questioning their gender on their own. They’re looking for community and reassurance — something to confirm they’re not alone in what they’re feeling. Support groups and services help with this, but there are a lot of barriers. Misinformation, stigma, and censorship make it hard The people working in LGBTQIA+ organizations and libraries said non-
Many were also mentally prepared to encounter hate and misinformation while searching for answers, especially given the prevalence anti-LGBTQIA+ and anti-trans sentiment. WHERE WE GO FROM HERE First things first — I need to finish my dissertation (and hopefully, by the time you’re reading this, I have). Beyond that, another big goal of mine is to help in the fight for legal recognition of non-binary and genderqueer people in the Republic of Ireland. This Pride, I hope we take a moment to celebrate each other. One of the best things to come from this research was seeing just how much community support is out there. I was forewarned that I might struggle to find non-binary and genderqueer participants, that couldn’t have been further from the truth. So many people were eager to share their stories — which just goes to show how much we need to be seen, heard, and represented in research and beyond. BIO Faye Carrie is a PhD Candidate in University College Dublin’s School of Information and Communication Studies, having taken the slightest four-year detour from their work as a librarian to focus on research. Their area of expertise is the non-binary and genderqueer lived experience through the lens of their interactions with information.
By Faye Carrie (she/they)
no consensus amongst non-binary and genderqueer people about their inclusion under the trans umbrella. Some welcomed it, while others were much more ambivalent about it. Research shows that for trans, non- binary, genderqueer, or otherwise gender-diverse people, there’s often a disconnect, or an incongruence, between how we see ourselves and how the world sees us. This incongruence doesn’t go away until we come across something called the “transgender phenomenon”—basically, the understanding that being cisgender is not the only option. In Library & Information Studies, we often do something called an ‘information needs analysis’ to figure out what different communities need and how we can help. When it comes to non-binary and genderqueer folks,
genderqueer people use information to empower ourselves, focusing on our lived experiences and how we come to understand ourselves. SOME BACKGROUND In my field — Library & Information Studies — there’s not always a clear distinction made in research between trans people and those who are non- binary or genderqueer. We often get grouped together under the broad category of “not cisgender.” While I get why this happens, it can often mean that no one’s specific needs are being fully met. It also makes it seem like we’re one monolith, when in reality, experiences can vary greatly.
A community’s lack of information about themselves can cause serious risk and harm, and that is exactly what has been happening to non-binary and genderqueer people. Without information that reflects us and our lived experiences, our abilities to live well and safely are greatly affected. Many of us struggle to understand ourselves in a world that doesn’t understand or support us, and research about our lived experiences has only recently begun in earnest. This project aimed to explore how non-binary and
As an example of this (spoiler alert for other findings below), there was
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