Why should you include your pronouns when you introduce yourself?

1. It’s a quick and easy way to vocalize inclusion as well as to support, celebrate, and affirm our transgender and nonbinary colleagues.
2. It communicates where our values lie and that we envision a world where diversity is celebrated and all people are respected, valued, and affirmed inclusive of their sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.
3. It can be a conversation starter that allows us to lead with our allyship and educate new and potential allies about gender identity, gender expression, and the gender spectrum.

What do I use?

• She/her/hers: Typically used for people who identify as female, regardless of how they were assigned at birth. Example: She is the woman who is the CEO of the corporation.
• He/him/his: Typically used for people who identify as male, regardless of what they were assigned at birth. Example: He is a man who likes cats.
• They/them/theirs: Typically seen as a gender-neutral or gender-fluid designation, often used by people who were assigned a binary sex with which they do not identify. Example: Jamie went to the store and they bought soda.
• Xe/Ze and Xyr/Zir: These terms are most often used with individuals who identify as nonbinary in their gender identity. These words are often associated with (but certainly not limited to) more activist and academic spaces. Example: Ze is really good at trigonometry.