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Introduction
Gender and Sexuality Language
Understanding Pronouns
While there has been growing visibility and increased acceptance of transgender and gender diverse people in recent years, there has also been a significant increase in political, rhetorical, and literal attacks on transgender and gender diverse people. The ACLU of Kansas stands for all Kansans’ civil rights and will continue to fight against discrimination and political attacks against trans and gender diverse Kansans, and we want to make sure our network of civil liberties advocates is well-equipped to fight alongside us. We understand that issues involving transgender and gender diverse people can involve words, ideas, and identities that are new or confusing to some people and want to meet you where you are when it comes to knowledge and understanding of trans issues and identities. This guide seeks to provide you with the resources and information you need to feel confident communicating and advocating for trans and gender diverse Kansans’ civil rights. Check out the language and pronouns guides below, as well as the ally resource links if you’d like more information or additional resources.
This guide includes common terms used when talking about gender, sexuality, and expression. This is not an exhaustive guide and is Western and U.S.-centric. Other cultures may use different terms and have other conceptions of gender. Additionally, language changes. Some of the common terms used now are different from those used in the past to describe similar concepts. Some people may use terms that are less commonly used now to describe themselves, and some people may use different terms altogether. While that can feel confusing, don’t worry—what is important is listening to, recognizing, and respecting people as you’re learning.
This guide describes what pronouns are, why they matter, how to use them, what to do if you mess someone’s pronouns up, and how you can normalize inclusive pronoun practices in your life. Pronouns are what we use to refer to someone without using their name, and using someone’s chosen pronouns is a sign of respect and a recognition of someone’s humanity. While there has been a lot of discussion about gender neutral pronouns specifically, it is important to know that everyone has pronouns that are used when referring to them—and getting those pronouns right is not exclusively a trans or gender diverse issue.
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