After reading a few of the excerpts from “Beyond the Gender Binary” By Alok Vaid Manon, as well as watching the short interview, I was left in complete awe. Alok shared their personal experiences with complete transparency and utilized their platform for the greater good. A few of the things that I admired from both the video and the excerpts were the comparisons that were made to prove a point: How can one person, out of almost 8 billion people, only be able to choose between two genders? Alok emphasized thinking beyond this belief. Both genders, male and female, should instead be viewed as two of an infinity of options, “like two stars in a galaxy”. By stating that there is a galaxy, we are not only recognizing the existence of two stars but also acknowledging the billions of other stars that make the galaxy as wondrous as it is. 

If I’m being completely honest, as appreciative as I was to read and learn more about this matter from the perspective of someone who is both nonbinary and nonconforming, I couldn’t help but also feel angry. Of course, I have heard about the unfortunate experiences that many have gone through for simply being their authentic selves. Yet to recall that there are individuals who make such hateful comments on a matter that they choose to not learn about is not only disheartening, but ignorant. As Alok stated, I hope that as time goes on, we will all do a better job at not emphasizing and exaggerating the differences between both males and females but instead celebrating them. I was taught from a young age that the world is so much more beautiful when you remember that you’re not the only one in it, and I can only hope that others will remember to do the same.