I’m non-binary, assigned female, and I transitioned in middle age. I grew up in the 70s and 80s, and I had no exposure to trans men or non-binary transmasculine people in my youth, so I didn’t know being anything other than a girl/woman was even an option. And there was no manner of dress or mannerisms that would indicate I was anything other than a girl (though perhaps a tomboyish one); wearing pants instead of skirts and dresses wasn’t unusual by that time. Of course, for trans girls and women (who haven’t come out/transitioned yet) the reverse is not true.

If it seems like a lot more young people are coming out as non-binary now, that’s partially because they have more access to share each others’ experiences via social media, and realize that they’re not alone or crazy. I wish I’d had that access in my youth; I might have figured things out a lot sooner.