October 18th was International Pronoun Day! Unlike the other days we've explored that had origins in the '80s and '90s, this one came about far more recently. The first International Pronoun Day was held in 2018 and was created to raise awareness of the importance of using people's correct pronouns.
The day is now celebrated annually on the third Wednesday of October. People can celebrate by sharing their pronouns, learning other people's pronouns, or generally educating themselves on different gender identities and pronoun diversity.
A few words from me about pronouns!
Make sure to use someone's correct pronouns if you know what they are--it's an act of basic respect.
All pronouns are valid, neopronouns too! I'll definitely be writing a longer piece aboutneopronouns in a future newsletter.
If you don't know someone's pronouns, ask! Or even better, introduce yourself with your own pronouns so other people can feel comfortable to reciprocate.
Including pronouns in your e-mail signature and social media bios is a great step, but make sure to follow up by mentioning the importance of pronouns in real life as well.
If you accidentally misgender someone (e.g. call them by the wrong pronouns), apologize and move on! Lingering on the issue often means the other person ends up reassuring you instead of the other way around, whereas they're the one who was just misgendered. Everyone makes mistakes and trips up sometimes!
When referring to a group of people, it's always a great idea to steer away from gendered terms such as "hello ladies!" or "hi boys and girls!". Try to think of neutral more inclusive ways to address a group, that way you can make sure everyone feels comfortable.