Pronouns
They/Them
Ze/Hir
Xe/Xem
Ze/Zir
Fae/Faer
and many more!
Non-binary is a broad category of people who identify as not exclusively a man or exclusively a woman
Practice!!!!!
walking down the street, if you see someone with cute hair or a nice dog - think "Their hair is cute, or their dog looks so nice!"
Don’t make it about you, whether through an unnecessarily prolonged apology or by talking about how hard the switch is for you.
If the person you’re referring to is a stranger or a server/bartender/etc. you may not need to know. If the person is a fellow program participant, program staff, new friend, or coworker, for example, it is best to ask.
Try: “What pronouns do you use?”
Some people may not want a lot of public attention to their pronouns, while others will appreciate you standing up for them. If someone uses the wrong pronoun for a person who isn’t present, try a brief correction: • “I think Sam uses she and her pronouns. And yes, I’m going to her house later too!”
If I misgender someone by mistake, what do I do?
Most people appreciate a quick apology and correction at the time of the mistake. Try: “Her books are—I’m sorry, their books are right here.” By correcting yourself, you’re modeling respectful pronoun use for others in the conversation. If you only realize the mistake later, a brief apology can help. Try: “I’m sorry I used the wrong pronoun earlier. I’ll be more careful next time.”