Wednesday, March 11, 2020
Non-binary in theory, cis-binary in practice
At This Stage: Non-binary people have broken so many political barriers in recent years. From legal identification markers to the right to access public facilities, non-binary people have fought to be recognized. And in lots of ways it feels like that recognition is finally happening. The entertainment industry is beginning to highlight more and more gender diversity. More non-binary people are being cast, winning awards, writing and directing. In lieu of this, hundreds of organizations have adopted gender-inclusive work trainings and policies in order to facilitate a more inclusive work environment for trans, non-binary, and gender non-conforming people.
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2 comments:
I was a bit confused and a more than a little concerned when I read the title of this article, but it is such a significant topic and the points that Josh brings up are really important and informative. Their analogy of representation without inclusion being a lion pit is so accurate and brings to light how frightening these situations can be for non-binary people. Diversity training is also an important part of promoting inclusion, but I personally think that this kind of work is rendered somewhat useless without proper repercussions for breaking the inclusive values companies are promoting. In my experience, efforts to make environments more friendly for the LGBTQ community only reach the ears of those that are already on board. That's why I'm glad that this article lays out some concrete ways to make these environments more inclusive because it also helps make a framework for what non-binary people expect from a healthy and inclusive community. People in positions of power need to listen to what the community expects in order to make real change, and not just assume they understand the solution.
I appreciate how direct and honest this article is. It is very true that theater wants to always claim to be at the forefront of diversity and inclusion, yet I cannot remember the last time I attended a theatrical performance where the venue had gender neutral bathrooms. You can’t just say you encourage diversity; your space needs to reflect your words. Bathrooms are such an obvious indicator of the depth to which an organization is committed to diversity and inclusion. I am shocked it is not discussed more. I feel like most places include diversity training nowadays, but what does that really mean if the space that audience members are actually interacting with is not welcoming? Even if there is a legal concern preventing theaters from actually replacing the gendered signs, putting up a sign that says people are welcome to use whatever restroom they want would still prove that the company is invested in making people feel included.
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