Hello there, dear readers! This month, I would love to turn our LGBTQ+ Focus/Feature toward some non-binary celebrities. Non-binary, for those who are unsure, is used by people who identify as more than one gender, no gender, or have a fluctuating gender identity. While there have been celebrities in the past who have identified as non-binary (whether publicly or privately), I would like to highlight five celebs in particular who have been making waves recently.

If you're a fan of bingeing on Netflix, you've probably seen or heard of several of today's celebrities. First up is Emma D'Arcy, an English actor whose portrayal of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen in the Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon nabbed them a nomination at the 2023 Golden Globes. Emma has said that the most important part of their nomination was that "the space for trans people and gender non-conforming people is getting bigger all the time."

Next up is Bella Ramsey, who, after an incredible performance as Lyanna Mormont in Game of Thrones, took the world by storm in the role of Ellie in The Last of Us, a series adaptation of the popular video game of the same name. Ramsey has said that while they don't like the idea of being gendered and consider themselves gender-fluid, they don't prefer any pronoun over another.

Jonathan Van Ness's career went from a hair salon assistant to one of the most recognizable faces of the Queer Eye franchise after joining up with Funny Or Die to make a Game of Thrones parody, Gay of Thrones. Van Ness fluctuates between he/him, they/them, and she/her pronouns interchangeably, saying that "[S]ome days I feel like a man, but then other days I feel like a woman... Any opportunity I have to break down stereotypes of the binary, I am down for it, I'm here for it."

From acting to songwriting to activism, Janelle Monae is one of the hardest-working non-binary folks in the entertainment industry. They caught the eye of Sean 'Puffy' Combs in 2006 and released their first album in 2007, Metropolis, where they created an android 'alter-ego' for themselves named Cindi Mayweather. Monae has used the concept of androids to explain 'the other', particularly how people of color and queer people have been 'othered' by society, explaining that "You can compare it to being a lesbian or being a gay man or being a Black woman ... what I want is for people who feel oppressed or feel like the 'other' to connect with the music and to feel like, 'She represents who I am.'"

Sam Smith, though not an actor, has certainly been one of the more well-known non-binary celebrities of the past several years. After gaining recognition for their part in Disclosure's song "Latch" and Naughty Boy's "La La La", Smith has released four albums, performed three tours, and starred in both a television special for fellow performer Elton John as well as a documentary about themselves called On The Record. Smith also helped make history in 2022 when their single, "Unholy", which they performed along with Kim Petras, became their first number one single in the US and also won the Grammy for Best Pop Duo / Group Performance. (Kim Petras is also the first openly transgender artist to win a Grammy!)

Welcome back to Representation in the Media! Today, we'll be talking about The Sims 4. I do want to mention quickly that I have not played the Sims before, so be aware that I have limited knowledge of the game. For others like me, the Sims is a game that allows players to build characters, which you can then control. As the name suggests, it is almost a simulation of real life, just with fake characters. Let's dive right in!

In early 2023, the Sims 4 rolled out a new update. New features include "[t]op surgery scars, binders, tucking underwear, and shapewear" (The Philadelphia Inquirer). In addition to this, lots of medical items can now be worn, such as insulin pumps, hearing aids, and more. They can be color-customized and the hearing aids can be placed in either ear or both. While these new features are minimal, their impact on players' experience can be great. Providing more inclusive physical features and wearables to characters has proven to make many players feel more included in the game.

Some players have described the game as a form of escape for them, and also a place to express themselves. Some even mentioned that the game allowed them to explore versions of themselves that are limited in real life due to insurance or governmental blocks. These features allow players to create characters in many new ways! Many also utilize the game to create characters like themselves. Without these features, some people were left behind in this form of gameplay. They can now be more included and represented within the game.

As someone who doesn't play the game, these comments come more from others than from myself. It seems the general consensus is positive, which is wonderful! I think it's natural to worry about inclusiveness being counterproductive rather than productive, so it is nice to hear that this does not seem to be such a case. However, I cannot say for certain this is the case due to my limited exposure.

At the same time, I wholeheartedly hope this is not the end of new features such as this. I have no idea what physical features or wearables are currently in the game but in something meant to simulate life, I hope each and every player is eventually able to create a character representative of themselves, fully and without leaving anything out. I speculate this is not currently possible, but with the company moving in the right direction, I hope the momentum doesn't end.

Sources: https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia/sims-transgender-last-of-us-lgbtq-gamers-20230203.html