Asking People's Pronouns Can Out Them Without Their Consent
Channel: Alex Zorach
Date: 2018-08-22

Lately I have seen people normalizing the practice of asking people their preferred pronouns in public settings, like in front of a large group of people the person doesn't know. I explain that this can put some trans and nonbinary people on the spot, forcing them to choose to out themselves by revealing their preference, or lie and say something else. Sometimes, hesitation or confusion in response to the question might out them without their consent.

For these reasons I think it is a best practice to ask people pronouns individually, and discreetly, such as in private.

I especially want us to question the practice which some colleges or univeristies have been embracing or normalizing, which is the asking of pronouns in public settings such as a professor doing it in class or an orientation activity prompting students to do it in front of others.