DALLAS — For a thrifty Dallas shopper like Greg Brown, it does not matter if they shop in the women’s section or the men’s section. They can make any outfit work.
Brown is nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns.
Most of Brown’s friends call them “Hey Greg Hello.”
“I am a people person. I am an eager philanthropist. I am always looking of ways to benefit my community, people who are like me, people who may feel the same way or experience some sort of gender dysphoria in their lives,” said Brown.
Being nonbinary means a person feels that they do not fit in either the male or female category. They find themselves floating in the middle. Brown knows nonbinary is a relatively new term for some.
“You know, I had to educate my parents when I came out just because I try to educate the people that are in my immediate life who love and support me. So it’s like, of course, I want them to experience me whole,” Brown said.
One way Brown expresses the way they feel on the inside is through fashion. They drove to their favorite Dallas thrift store to pick out some new outfits.
“I always go on my day off just to get inspired and try to base a look on something I find,” Brown said.
The best part about Brown’s style is that they are not restricted to one side of the store.
“Ever since coming to terms with who I am, I feel like I’ve sort of liberated myself to just see the whole store as my oyster,” they said.
They buy what makes them feel good, regardless if it is on the men’s side or women’s side.
“Exactly! It’s all a social construct at the end of the day,” Brown explained. “Like, it’s funny. Because there’s some things I’ll find in the men’s section. Like, I’ll get something like this and, like, getting it super oversized and belt it and wear some nice heels. It’s fun! Fashion is fun, gender is fun.”
Brown said clothing and fashion is a great way to cope with gender dysphoria.
“Growing up, I came out as a gay man, and living as a gay man, then just sort of being out in the world as that. And slowly figuring out, oh this is deeper, there’s something else going on. I thought this was it, but it’s not it. And dressing how I feel on the inside is really liberating,” they explained.
Brown hopes more people will educate themselves on what being nonbinary means, and always welcomes respectful questions when someone genuinely wants to learn the answer. Brown suggests starting with two simple questions when you meet someone: what is your name, and what are your pronouns? That opens the door for someone to tell you how they identify, if they feel comfortable.
