New Law Reveals Fines of 250000 for Using Wrong Pronouns with Transgender Individuals#lgbtq #trans
Channel: MISSIONS FIELD TV
Date: 2023-06-20

By now, the cultural visibility of the transgender, genderqueer and gender nonconforming community has seriously expanded the way that we view gender. And while general awareness about gender diversity has increased, there are still some technical aspects that many people continue to struggle with, chief among those being the use of gender-neutral pronouns.

As a genderqueer advocate and media personality who has used gender-neutral pronouns for years, I have many pointers and tips to share. But don’t just take it from me; I also spoke with Nick Adams, director of GLAAD’s transgender media program, about his thoughts on the issue. With our guidance, you can confidently show up to that gender-fabulous dance party.

Let’s get to it.

Why do people want to use gender-neutral pronouns anyway? What’s wrong with gendered pronouns?
It’s not that there is something wrong with gendered pronouns; it’s just that the pronouns “he” and “she” come with a certain set of expectations about how someone should express their identity and relate to the world. For many people, gender normativity can get in the way of self-expression—so the words “he” or “she” can feel limiting. “Some people have a gender identity that is non-binary, and conventional pronouns have the effect of assigning them a binary identity,” says Adams.

Take me, for example. I was assigned male at birth, but I’ve spent a good portion of my life trying to get away from the expectations that have been placed on me because of that. Asking people to use the gender-neutral pronoun “they” instead of “he” to refer to me has been a big step in my journey toward self-love and self-acceptance.

What should I use if someone doesn’t want to be referred to as “he” or “she”? What are the options?
In my experience, the most common gender-neutral pronoun used by genderqueer and gender nonconforming people is “they/them/their,” but that doesn’t mean it’s the only option. Some people choose to use the gender-neutral pronouns “ze/hir/hirs” (pronounced “zee/here/here”) or “ey/em/eir” (pronounced “ay/em/airs”), among others. Many gender-neutral pronouns are out there, and they can certainly get confusing. That’s where Google comes in handy!