#IAmNonBinary: Janelle Monáe shares gender identity on Twitter

"You’ve helped more people than you know with this tweet today!"

Janelle Monáe has taken to social media to share that they're non-binary. Source: WireImage

Singer and actor Janelle Monáe yesterday took to social media to share that they're non-binary.

Monáe, who narrates a new Netflix documentary series called Sex, Explained, wrote '#IAmNonBinary' on Twitter over the weekend, sharing the news alongside a small planet emoji. 

The star, who came out as pansexual during an interview with Rolling Stone in 2018, was participating in a social media discussion around nonbinary identity, with nonbinary people from around the world using the '#IAmNonBinary' hashtag to connect with others in the community.

While Monáe hasn't elaborated on the tweet, or explained their preferred pronouns, members of the LGBTIQ+ were quick to thank them for such an encouraging display of openness.

"It's beautiful to see people with big and young audiences voicing things like this so these confused, scared, unsure adolescents, children, and even adults can have role models to look up to!!" One follower replied.

"You’ve helped more people than you know with this tweet today!"

Non-binary pronoun 'they' was last year named the 2019 word of the year by Merriam-Webster, three months after being added to the US dictionary, signalling a growing public awareness of non-binary gender identities and pronouns.

Singer Sam Smith came out as non-binary last year, telling fans on social media that they would now be using 'they/them' pronouns.

Smith wrote: "I understand there will be many mistakes and misgendering, but all I ask is you please please try. I hope you can see me like I see myself now."