Ay'lonit (איילונית) is a gender from Jewish culture where one was identified as a female at birth, but develops male characteristics later in life. This was likely used to describe individuals with certain intersex variations in which, upon puberty, one does not develop common female characteristics and is infertile. In modern terms this can be interpreted either as a transgender man, or an intersex individual. Some trans, non-binary, or intersex Jewish people find that the term ay'lonit fits their experience.
In Jewish sacred texts there are six different genders identified[1]. These are:
- "Zachar", someone who is identified as male at birth and presents as male later in life. This would be considered to be a cisgender man today.
- "Nekeivah", someone who is identified as female at birth and presents as female later in life. This would be considered a cisgender women today.
- "Ay'lonit", someone who is identified as female at birth but shows male characteristics later in life. This can be considered a transgender man in today's terms.
- "Saris", someone who is identified as male at birth but shows female characteristics later in life. This can be considered a transgender woman in today's terms.
- "Androgynos", someone who has both male and female sexual characteristics. This would refer to certain intersex variations, but in terms of gender in the modern day it is closest to androgyne or bigender.
- "Tumtum" someone whose sexual characteristics are indeterminate or obscured. This would also refer to intersex variations, but in terms of gender it is closest to agender.
Ay'lonit is a culture exclusive gender, specific to Jewish culture and should not be used by people not of that culture.
Flag
The ay'lonit flag was designed by Tumblr user Bigfootrights on November 8, 2019[2]. The colors were chosen with homage to the daytime and dawn. The gradient reflects the spectrum of identities that people who may be an ay'lonit can possess.