A pronoun is a word used to refer to either the people who are talking (like “I” or “you”) or a person being talked about in the third person (like “she/her,” “he/him,” and “they/them”).

Today is about sharing, respecting, and educating about personal pronouns in different kinds of social situations. People’s identities should be recognized, and especially today, celebrated!

It’s important to remember that we can never assume to know a person’s pronouns, or whether a person uses pronouns. Declaring your own pronouns when introducing yourself is a respectful way of setting up an inclusive space, and disrupts the practice of making assumptions first.

It’s basic mutual respect to use someone’s preferred pronouns. We've pulled together some resourceful information for you to learn more about gendered language and best practices.