G&STC’s Director Jesse Kahn talks with Gabrielle Kassel at Well + Good about understanding neopronouns

CHECK OUT G&STC’S DIRECTOR JESSE KAHN TALKING WITH GABRIELLE KASSEL AT WELL + GOOD ABOUT UNDERSTANDING NEOPRONOUNS AND HOW TO USE THEM.

“A main component of what separates neopronouns from other personal pronouns is that they are very explicitly not linked to gender. ‘They disrupt the idea that you can make gender assumptions about a person based on their pronouns,’ says sex therapist Jesse Kahn, LCSW, CST, director at The Gender & Sexuality Therapy Center in New York City.”

“A number of folks are currently focused on untangling the direct link between pronouns like he/him and she/her from ‘man’ and ‘woman,’ respectively (Queer Eye's Jonathan Van Ness, for example, uses he/him pronouns and is nonbinary). But due to these pronouns' long history of reflecting and reinforcing a gender binary, ‘in a lot of spaces, cultures, and languages, she/her pronouns and he/him pronouns are still [exclusively] linked to women and men,’ Kahn says.”

“If you're nervous about messing up neopronoun usage, just as is the case with anything else in life, practice makes perfect. ‘Role-play using these pronouns in a sentence,’ suggests Kahn. ‘And if you make a mistake, just make the edit and keep moving.’ Because ultimately, the best way to affirm someone's pronouns and normalize the usage of neopronouns in language is to use them.”

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE.

MORE FROM G&STC DIRECTOR JESSE KAHN ON THIS TOPIC

ON THE DEFINITION OF NEOPRONOUNS

Neopronouns are pronouns that are very explicitly not linked to gender. So for example, we often say he/him is not exclusive for men, but we also know that in a lot of spaces, cultures and language they are often linked to men. Neo pronouns have no inherent link to gender and can therefore disrupt the culture of making assumptions in connection to pronouns.

ON BEING A TRANS ALLY

Being a trans ally can include educating yourself, giving your time and resources to trans led orgs working to support trans people and communities, not outing anyone, offering your pronouns and using inclusive language, and listening and following the lead of trans leaders.