But There Are More Than Two.

As UUs, we respect the interdependence of all existence. All on this blue planet share the air; without it, we all die. But we humans often only see “us and them”. For example, we often see “us” as dominating other animals (“them”). And there are numerous ways in which we view other humans through that lens.

Most living things are viewed as either male or female, but there are more than two. Understanding the variety of organizations and genders in animals and humans can produce personal, social and professional benefits.

Animals and people do differ, but all share a love of family, community, food and home. In the animal world, courtship and same sex pairs have been well documented — in penguins, elephants, fruit flies, dolphins and others. Furthermore, in a school of Clownfish, if the dominant female dies, the largest male undergoes hormonal changes and becomes a female. These just touch the incredible diversity of reproductive strategies in the animal kingdom.

We often view people as male and female, and most of us fit into one of those boxes. The fact, however, is that there are more than two. They include non-binary – people who don’t identify as male or female; genderfluid whose gender identity changes over time; agender which are those who do not identify with any gender; bigender who identify with two genders simultaneously or alternately and others.

A deep understanding of people who are different from us can produce important benefits:
· It facilitates understanding and empathy.
· It broadens our perspectives and
challenges our assumptions.
· It fosters personal growth.
· It builds personal networks, depletes
stereotypes and has the ripple effect of
encouraging others to do the same.

Everyone is happy to help others understand them.
Simply ask a question.
-Markly Wilson