Aussie Brand “Bonds” Features Non-Binary Model In New Bikini Campaign, Is Rocked By Criticism

Model Mikey, who has identified as a proud non-binary Jew on their Instagram page, has since responded to the adverse reactions in a video .

“Gender diversity doesn’t look the same. I like to say we [are] like shades of green […], they are infinite,” the model explained, arguing that previous media coverage of their bonds campaign “championed voices of ignorance and hate” instead of celebrating “love, kindness, and acceptance.”

In an analogy, Mikey referred to gender diversity as shades of green because they are “infinite.” “I’m a shade often left out of mainstream media,” they explained. “And I’m a shade definitely not tolerated by the conservative lens,” they added.

A study suggests that people who identify within the LGBTQ+ community are still overwhelmingly underrepresented in mainstream media.

According to Nielsen’s “Being Seen on Screen: Diverse Representation & Inclusion on TV” report , lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people make up an estimated 4.5 percent of the U.S. population, yet they were 6.7 percent of the top 10 recurring cast members in the top 300 programs on broadcast, cable, and streaming platforms in 2019.

The report also found that 26 percent of the top 300 programs included at least one cast member who identifies as LGBTQ+.