I seriously loved reading this snippet of Beyond The Gender Binary by Alok Vaid-Menon. Alok posed questions and statements throughout each excerpt that I have definitely heard and seen before. They then proceed to explain in detail why this is incorrect or even offensive, and the differences between what is normal and being normative. When I first was introduced to gender non-conforming people, and the terms non-binary and transgender, I was definitely uncomfortable- but not scared of it. It was something new that like anything else, I would grow to learn and understand- that is one of the reasons why I appreciate readings like this. I rarely see news headlines or social media coverage about gender fluidity, unless it is an infographic and made by a content creator. It frustrates me that when the media does include non-binary and transgender people, it is narrated by someone who does not define as such. The fact that the United States denies non-binary people basic human rights, stripping them of access to healthcare and participation in sports, among many other things, is pure oppression. It is also the control and power people want to have over the human biological makeup- which has nothing to do with achieving normative heterosexual goals. Although I feel that I am well versed in this topic… I realized that I am not, and that is okay. It is a privilege to define yourself as heterosexual because there lies no scrutiny behind it. My outlook on acceptance and making room for non-binary and trans people has grown immensely.