In this episode, host of Responsibly Different Benn Marine shares with listeners some best practices around using pronouns in your work space and unpacks some of the gender universe to help folks build more inclusive and safer work environments.
Harvey has to go to the bathroom. Here is Harvey’s leash. Will you take Harvey for a walk?
With He/Him/His: He has to go to the bathroom. Here is his leash. Will you take him for a walk?
With They/Them/Theirs: They have to go to the bathroom. Here is their leash. Will you take them for a walk?
How it should look on your flashcard: _______ has/have to go to the bathroom. Here is _____ leash. Will you take _____ for a walk?
Understand that intentions and the impact of our actions can be different. We all have to own the impact we have, intended or not, and work to prevent possible negative impacts in the future.
Respect gender and associated language, even if you don’t understand it.
Trust trans folks to be the experts on their own identities
Don’t make gender assumptions
Take Space / Make Space
Ally is a verb, something we all need to be working at with intention
Most importantly, outing is an act of violence, always respect people’s privacy
If you or someone you know may be at risk of suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. If you’re a young LGBTQ person and need to talk to someone, call The Trevor Project’s 24-hour crisis hotline for youth at 1-866-488-7386. If you are a transgender person of any age, call the Trans Lifeline at 877-565-8860.
BRO Common Trans Ally Missteps
What are Pronouns and how do different languages use them? from Duolingo
A Brief History of Singular ‘they’
‘They’ Is Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Year 2019