Carlton AFLW player Darcy Vescio reveals they are non-binary

Carlton star Darcy Vescio has taken to social media to reveal they are non-binary, with the AFLW star flooded with support.

AFLW Carlton star Darcy Vescio has taken to social media to reveal they are non-binary. Picture: Kelly Defina

AFLW Carlton star Darcy Vescio has taken to social media to reveal they are non-binary, preferring they/them pronouns moving forward.

Vescio, 28, posted a photo with a happy-go-lucky grin on Instagram and Twitter, explaining their decision.

“Just popping in to let you know I am non-binary,” Vescio said.

“Sharing this feels a bit daunting, but brings me a lot of warmth and happiness.”

The comment sections of the posts were flooded with love and support from fellow AFLW athletes and public figures, including Lily Mithen of the Melbourne Demons and disability activist Carly Findlay.

Comedian Felicity Ward also commented “the enbies are lucky to have you”, using a slang abbreviation for non-binary – or NB.

Non-binary is an umbrella term for a fluid gender identity, one that does not confine itself to the dichotomy of male nor female.

Being non-binary comes from the understanding that gender can be fluid, and is that gender is largely informed by an individual’s socialisation as either male or female.

Most non-binary persons choose to adopt they/them pronouns, as it sidesteps the necessity to confine oneself to a single gender and allows the person to identify themself in a way that makes them comfortable.

Vescio claimed a spot in the All-Australian AFLW team in 2021, leading the league in goal kicking with a blistering 16 majors in nine matches.

Their announcement is the second AFLW ‘enbie’ coming out of the year, as Gold Coast Suns player Tori Groves-Little also came out earlier in the year as non-binary.

Groves-Little told AFL Media last week that there are two parts of being non-binary.

“There’s one where you’re more gender fluid, where you could wake up and feel more feminine, or one day you feel more masculine,” they said.

“And there’s the second one – which I identify more as – is neither. It’s just gender-neutral, I guess.”

Last year the AFL updated its gender diversity policy to allow trans and non-binary people to compete in the AFLW, leading to some resistance but largely, overwhelming support.

Vescio wrapped up their post confirming their preferred pronouns, adding that they “will always respond to Darcy unless in trouble”.

Originally published as Carlton AFLW player Darcy Vescio reveals they are non-binary