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The story centers around the ongoing effort to standardize a gender-neutral pronoun for Chinese, specifically the character “X也,” for non-binary individuals. Historically, Chinese pronouns were rigidly binary, but a community-created option emerged in 2017. Despite near-a decade of existence, the character remained largely unofficial due to difficulty in typing and limited adoption. Unicode’s inclusion of “X也” in September 2023 marks a significant step, though implementation will take time as tech platforms and font manufacturers update their systems. The process is driven by activists like Siufung Law and Fan, who highlight the importance of recognizing non-binary identities within a language and culture often leaning towards conservative attitudes, particularly in mainland China where LGBTQ+ rights are severely restricted. The adoption of “X也” offers a crucial choice and validation to non-binary individuals, mirroring broader global struggles for recognition and equality, and potentially sparking more conversations around gender identity.