International Pronouns Day began in 2018 when organizers used the hashtag #PronounsDay and spread educational resources with the goal of “[seeking] to make respecting, sharing, and educating about personal pronouns commonplace,” as stated on the official website. International Pronouns Day is celebrated during the third week of October every year as the practice of choosing one’s own pronouns becomes more ubiquitous and necessary in our society.
When asked about the importance of celebrating International Pronoun Day, Mr. Stracco of the GSA says “by changing our language to become more inclusive, we change our perspective of each other.”
“by changing our language to become more inclusive, we change our perspective of each other.”
For transgender and gender nonconforming individuals, the recognition of International Pronoun Day is essential to their inclusion in public spaces and the rhetoric surrounding intersecting identities. Like calling someone by their first name, calling someone by their preferred pronouns is an act of human dignity that this day seeks to extend to all people, regardless of how they choose to identify.
Here are a few resources about pronouns and how you can be more conscious of your language in everyday speech:
Featured image credit: https://www.washington.edu/news/2019/10/15/new-pronoun-option-coming-for-students-celebrate-international-pronouns-day-oct-16/