AFLW’s Darcey Vescio came out as non – binary.
The Carlton player revealed their gender identity. They came out on Twitter and Instagram.
After posting a video, Vescio wrote:
Just popping in to let you know I am non – binary.
They went on:
Sharing this feels a bit daunting, but brings me a lot of warmth and happiness.
Vestio’s revelation has been met with support from public figures, such as AFLW player, Lily Mithen and dissability advocate, Carly Findlay.
AFLW’s Gold Coast Suns player, Tori Groves – Little has also come out as non – binary.
Revealing yourself online can be nerve – wracking
Over eight years ago, when I started blogging, I wrote about asexuality and LGBTQ+ issues.
When I wrote about and analysed news and opinion or a researched piece, I was fine.
However, it was nerve – wracking when I wrote something that hit close to home. When I wrote one blog post in particular (it was about the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Intersexism), I was too nervous to think straight.
Coming out and invalidation
I can’t say whether or not Vescio felt the same way. But the experience makes me respect those like them that do come out publicly. Especially since gender non – binary people are often invalidated, (much like asexual people were).
Whenever trans or non – binary people are on the news or social media, more often than not, there are invalidating comments. Things along the lines that non – binary people are either male or female, want to be special, yadda, yadda.
Very similar things that asexual people faced in the early 2010’s. Here’s the thing. no matter how many times you tell a non – binary person that they are male for female, it won’t change how they intrinsically feel.
Likewise, if you tell a bisexual people to ‘pick a side’ or an asexual person that they are faking/ they are straight, etc, it doesn’t change how they feel. It doesn’t change who they intrinsically are.
Herald Sun should be commended for its reporting
There are so many criticisms that can be made about mainstream media outlets.
However, Grace Baldwin from Herald Sun did a great job at reporting Vescio’s coming out.
Baldwin respected Vescio’s pronouns throughout the article. It was free of invalidation.
The article offered further information on what non – binary means, which I thought that was great.
There are non – binary people who’s identity may fluctuate or exist in the male/ female spectrum.
There are other non – binary people who don’t identify within the binary (agender) or consider themselves neutral. Vescio identifies with the latter.
The more non – binary come out, the more acceptance there’ll be (hopefully)
Like asexuality, I hope that non – binary people will be embraced like others in the LGBTQ+ community.
I hope that there comes a time when non – binary people will feel comfortable coming out. They should be free to live their lives without discrimination.
We’re not there yet. But if newspapers like Herald Sun can cover stories of non – binary people with integrity and respect, I think we are moving in the right direction.
