How to Use Inclusive Language

Members of the LGBTQIA+ community are at an increased risk of experiencing disorders such as anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, and dysphoria. One way that we can be mindful of our impact on others is to use gender neutral language instead of assuming we know how an individual identifies. Using inclusive language to refer to others is not something that was taught widely until recent years and is still not prioritized enough outside of the LGBTQIA+ community. Regardless of how you identify your gender, it is important to understand what it means to use inclusive language when referring to others.

LGBTQ+Frankki Sorce, LPCJune 21, 2023LGBTQ+, gender, pronouns

Misgendering: How it Hurts your Trans Child

Did you know that anyone can be misgendered? You don’t have to be trans to be referred to as the wrong gender or talked about with the wrong pronouns. However, trans people are common recipients of misgendering. Misgendering trans people can have very negative effects. You may not even realize you are hurting your trans child when you do this. Using new pronouns and a new name can be hard to adjust to, especially when it is someone you’ve known all of their life. However, it is important to put in that extra effort and correct your mistakes. Here’s why it’s important to be mindful about pronouns and what you can do to make the switch more seamless…

Acknowledging Preferred Pronouns

We see it more commonly in social media, on email signatures and on Zoom calls: A person introduces themselves with their name, followed by their preferred pronoun. There are so many, like she/her, he/him, and they/them pronouns, among others. What do all of these pronouns mean, exactly? And why are preferred pronouns so important?

Helpful Tips