COLUMBUS, Ohio — Niall Thomas, 21, came out as gay at the age of 12. Although Thomas’ family and friends were very accepting, many school kids and strangers were not. 

“I was still getting bullied, still having people talk about me,” said Thomas. “People mocked me in front of everyone. I got called a few names including 'it' so it was a little hard.”

But times are changing. Thomas recently came out as nonbinary, otherwise known as gender non-confomring or genderqueer. It means someone who doesn’t identify as a man or a woman.

“That was different. Everyone was way more accepting. It still takes people a little bit of time to get used to it or come to terms but no one has been outright nasty or mean,” said Thomas. “I kind of just mind my business and they seem to mind theirs. I do get a few stares, but I don't know if it’s my over-confidence, but I just think they think I’m cute!” 

Some people don't neatly fit into the categories of "man" or "woman," or “male” or “female.” Thomas has both masculine and feminine traits and qualities. 

“I am nonbinary so he/him or she/her pronouns, either or works, but I do still identify as gay,” said Thomas. “The gender in society is binary, so there’s man and woman. Being gender non-conforming, nonbinary, trans — all these things is just something outside of that. I wouldn't say that I would call myself a boy or a girl. Or some days, I'm a boy. Some days, I'm a girl. I am Niall.”

Although conversations surrounding being nonbinary have only made it to mainstream in recent years, Thomas feels society has become more accepting and open to learning. 

“I feel like I have masculine traits and ways about me, boyish ways if you will, but at the same time... I also, especially here recently I've just been standing here in my womanhood and feeling that and I feel like to deny either and be like this is wrong, this isn’t me, would just be harmful to myself and my own personal growth,” said Thomas. “Whenever I meet someone, there’s the inevitable, ‘I don't mean this in a bad way but what are you called?’ Which it never hurts my feelings or anything, I’m always open for questions, just as long as it’s respectful.”

Thomas’ coming out story is wildly different from many LGBTQ people born in older generations. 

“These people had to really go through it so I can walk to the CVS in my short shorts,” said Thomas. “I’m definitely grateful to be alive in the time that I am now.”

Unlike many LGBTQ people in older generations, Thomas had no doubt gay marriage would be legalized.

“It was just a thing I assumed would be there by the time I wanted to get married, gay marriage would be legalized. I wasn’t going to worry about it,” said Thomas. 

At the time Thomas came out as gay in 2012 about 8 million Americans identified as LGBTQ, according to Gallup. A new Gallup poll found that 5.6% of Americans identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or queer.

Also, a new survey by Gallup shows that one in six people in generation Z, which is the most recent generation, identify as LGBTQ. This shows acceptance is up and discrimination has gone down, but Thomas is still waiting for true equality.  

“I think equality is just once we can shed the physical and stop caring what people look like, what they do, where they come from, who they do — all that kind of stuff, and it just gets down to who you are and your spirit as a person, your character,” said Thomas. 

Until then, Thomas will continue to build on the strength of generations before so others can also be their true selves.

“I don't understand the mentality behind telling other people who they can and cannot be. Just let people live,” said Thomas. “If my existence makes it so someone else can live their truth that’s all I need.”