International Pronouns Day: How to ask about someone's pronouns

International Pronouns Day: How to ask about someone's pronounsInternational Pronouns Day is celebrated on the third Wednesday of October. Here's everything you need to know.

by Naledi de Wee

21-10-2022 11:46

in LGBTQIA

Brazil, LGBTQI Rights, Summer, Day, Community Image via Getty Images

This year, International Pronouns Day was celebrated on Wednesday 19 October. The organisation notes that referring to people as the pronouns they determine for themselves is basic to human dignity. Here is everything you need to know about International Pronouns Day and how to navigate the world of pronouns.

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WHAT IS INTERNATIONAL PRONOUNS DAY? International Pronouns Day is celebrated on the third Wednesday of October every year. The day is about respecting, sharing, and educating people about personal pronouns. Referring to people by the wrong pronouns particularly affects transgender and gender nonconforming people.

Asking what someone's pronouns are, is simple. The conversation can easily be sparked by asking: Hey, what are your pronouns? You can also share your pronouns with someone else by saying: Hello, my name is my pronouns are

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Making assumptions about someone's gender identity is dangerous and offensive, as you might misgender them, so its always important to check with them!

It can be offensive or harassing to guess at someone's pronouns and refer to them using those pronouns, if that is not how that person wants to be known, writes the MyPronouns organisation.

COMMONLY USED PRONOUNS According to The New School in New York, these are some of the pronouns you might hear.

She/her : These pronouns refer to someone who identifies as female.

He/him : These pronouns refer to someone who identifies as male.

They/them : These pronouns refer to people who identify as gender-neutral or gender non-conforming.

Ze/hir : These pronouns aren't as common as the first three, although you might still hear them. Ze, can also be spelt zie or xe . Hir , is pronounced here .

My name: Some people prefer to be called by their names instead of conforming to a set of pronouns.

There are also people who use she/they or he/they pronouns, but most of the time they will specify which pronouns they prefer they most.

One thing you should always avoid is referring to someone as it or he-she . This is extremely offensive in the LGBTQI community.

Remember that it is natural to make mistakes with someone's pronouns, but it is important to be interested in learning.

American LGBTQI activist Rodrigo Lehtinen says stating pronouns at the bottom of an email or during a work meeting could also help.

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CELEBS AND PRONOUNS Elliot Page (He/They) Juno star Elliot Page came out as a transgender man in December last year. The actor has expressed that his pronouns are He/They but he prefers He .

Demi Lovato (She/They) Demi Lovato came out as non-binary and shared that even they misgender themselves! I'm just grateful for your effort in trying to remember what means so much to my healing process.

Halsey (She/They) Singer-songwriter and mom-of-one Halsey identifies as bisexual. The Now or Never hitmaker uses both she and they pronouns.

Sam Smith (They/Them) British singer-songwriter Sam Smith said they felt as much woman as they are man. In another interview Smith said: I'm not male or female. I think I float somewhere in between.

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