Wednesday 21-10-2020 - 10:27

International Pronouns Day is an annual event, on the third Wednesday of October. 

It serves to encourage respect, sharing, and education about personal pronouns.  Referring to people with the pronouns they determine for themselves is simply about treating others with the basic dignity and respect we'd expect to be treated with ourselves. 

Pronoun badges (they/them, she/her, and he/him) are available from the Students' Union.  Due to the closure of the Students' Union building to the public due to the current Coronavirus pandemic, if you'd like a pronoun badge, please contact Amy (VP Welfare) (su.vp.welfare@lancaster.ac.uk), Lydia and Charli (Women+ Officers) (su.womenofficer@lancaster.ac.uk), or Jesse (LGBTQ+ Officer) (su.lgbtq@lancaster.ac.uk). 

October 2020 also marks 3 years since passing our Use of Pronouns Policy (https://lancastersu.co.uk/resources/use-of-pronouns-policy), and a year since the Women+ Forum and LGBTQ+ Forum launched the 'They' Matter campaign - to celebrate and educate students about the diversity of people on our campus and the pronouns they use.   

The Pronouns Day organisation said: "We endorse International Pronouns Day, which seeks to make respecting, sharing, and educating about personal pronouns commonplace. Referring to people by the pronouns they determine for themselves is basic to human dignity. Being referred to by the wrong pronouns particularly affects transgender and gender nonconforming people. Together, we can transform society to celebrate people’s multiple, intersecting identities. We encourage colleges, schools, workplaces, and local organizations to hold educational and empowering events on International Pronouns Day."

Jesse, LGBTQ+ Officer said: "Introducing yourselves with your pronouns and asking other people what pronouns they'd like you to use to refer to them is about respecting and caring for each other, especially for trans+ individuals who may be subjected to the wrong pronouns frequently.  It's as simple as saying something like 'I'm Jesse, and I use they/them pronouns.  What pronouns do you use?'.  The 'They' Matter campaign from the Women+ and LGBTQ+ Forums is an amazing project working to educate on and normalise personal pronoun use." 

Charli and Lydia, Women+ Officers said:  “As the new Co-Women+ Officers we’d like to say Happy International Pronoun Day! Just like last year, this year we are supporting non-binary and trans students through our They Matter campaign in conjunction with the LGBTQ+ Forum as we believe it’s imperative to normalise the use of pronouns on campus. We’d recommend adding your pronouns to your social media bios, email signature and zoom name, regardless of whether you are cis, trans or non-binary. It’s a simple action that truly supports your fellow students.” 

#PronounsDay #PronounBadges #TheyMatter