Trans TikToker Lilly Contino’s new video goes viral – for all the right reasons
Trans TikToker Lilly Contino’s X video goes viral. (TikTok:@lillytino)
Trans TikToker Lilly Contino's X video goes viral. (TikTok:@lillytino)
Trans TikToker Lilly Contino has gone viral for her clear and concise explanation of what non-binary means.
In the TikTok, Contino is wearing a sign that reads: “Ask a trans person anything.” A stranger approaches her with the question: “What does binary mean?” Without judgment, Contino offers an explanation which has reached 2.4 million views.
Contino’s content mainly surrounds her gender transition and experiences with being misgendered. Her approach has courted controversy in the past. For example, in May 2025, she faced considerable backlash in after posting “rankings” of women’s bathrooms at Disney World, taking mirror selfies and commentary about using those restrooms, which some people claimed constituted an invasion of privacy for other bathroom users.
Others have suggested that her “activism” is more about creating viral content than genuine advocacy, and have even accused her of “rage-baiting” in order to get views.
However, in her most recent TikTok, she seems entirely focused on educating the public.
“Binary, the word, just means two,” Contino begins. “In computers, binary means zeros and ones.
“The gender binary means man and woman, or male and female. When we talk about the gender that you can be, in the past we’ve thought it’s either a man or a woman.
“But we have come to know that there are more genders than that. If you are something other than a man or a woman, you are not on the gender binary; you are non-binary.”
Contino concludes her explanation and the passer by sweetly responds: “Thanks for helping. I love that you can come out here and do this.”
Another person off-screen remarks: “You’re courageous to be out here. ”
In the comments, there are some praising both Contino’s approach and the question asker’s interaction.
“She was really respectful and nice about it, I liked that interaction,” one commenter wrote.
Furthermore, some in the comments thanked Contino for the explanation, which they say helped them to understand the term non-binary.
“Oh thank you! That makes sense to meeee omg,” one user shared.
Just the other month, a non-binary teacher went viral for explaining pronouns to their class. Robi then explains their pronouns, giving examples of how they are used: “For example: ‘They are a great art teacher. They taught us how to draw Stitch’.”
These simple but powerful explanations for trans and non-binary identities are important; they offer key knowledge to those who are not aware of LGBTQ+ terminology.
