“Hey Jordan, what pronouns do you use?”
“I’m here for you. I care about you, and I’ll support you no matter what. ” “I feel like you’re always there for me. You’re so kind and funny, and your friendship makes my life better every day. I want you to know I’m here for you, too. ”
“I’m sorry. I meant ‘They’re going to the mall later. ’” “Sorry, wrong name. Kenna, you should’ve gotten the chocolate ice cream. ”
If you’re not sure who they’ve come out to, ask them: “I want to make sure I’m using the correct pronouns, but I also want to respect your privacy. Have you come out to the rest of our friends?” If someone speculates or asks about your friend, say: “I don’t like to speak for them. You can ask them directly if you’re curious about their gender. ”
“I hear what you’re saying, and that sounds exciting/tough/amazing/scary. ” You can use brief verbal responses like “mm-hmm,” “I see,” “okay. ” If you’re not sure how to respond, ask, “Can you tell me more about that?” or “How can I best support you?”
“Hi, I’m Zoe and I use she/her pronouns. ” “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Karl and I use he/him pronouns. ” “Hey, my name’s Denver and I use they/them pronouns. ”
“Hi all, how are you doing?” “Hey, friends. Can we get going?” “Athletes/teammates, let’s huddle up. ” You can never tell someone’s gender identity from looking at them, so you might unknowingly make another person feel more comfortable when you opt for gender-inclusive language.
“Actually, his name is Nick, and he uses he/him pronouns. ” “Please leave. We’re not interested in talking to you. ” Ask your friend before you intervene on their behalf. Your friend may not want you to speak for them. Ensure your intervention won’t escalate a conflict into violence or make your friend more uncomfortable/unsafe.
Understand that sexuality and gender are two different things. [14] X Research source Know that there’s no right age or way for people to transition.
