International Pronouns Day

Second Annual Observance, October 16, 2019

International Pronouns Day 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, but many transgender and gender nonconforming people are regularly called by the wrong pronouns, which causes erasure and marginalization.

“Trans and gender nonconforming people, especially Black folks and those perceived to be feminine, are often harmed by many forms of interpersonal and systemic violence. An action as small as respecting names and pronouns can begin a conversation about justice and about creating the workplaces, educational environments, and communities where we all thrive,”

said Shige Sakurai (they), the campaign’s founder and the creator of the educational MyPronouns.org website.

“For me, it’s a spiritual undertaking, and it’s about wellbeing. We have to end assumptions and erasure and the harm they create.”

International Pronouns Day occurs on the third Wednesday of October each year, and in 2019 is scheduled for Wednesday, October 16, 2019.

Endorsements have come from hundreds of groups around the world, including groups based in Australia, Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, Rwanda, Singapore, the UK, the USA, and individual registrants in a variety of additional locations such as Denmark, Hong Kong, and Mexico.

The full list of endorsers is online at: https://pronounsday.org/endorsers

To recognize International Pronouns Day, participants will conduct outreach, host educational events, post online using the #PronounsDay hashtag, work to create supportive institutional policies and practices, and create awareness in their workplaces, campuses, and communities.

The event’s website (https://www.pronounsday.org) includes ideas and tools for participating, answers to common questions, and a registration form for individuals and endorsing organizations.

“Intersecting forms of oppression deeply impact transgender communities. These actions are part of the larger work of creating and sustaining inclusive and supportive communities for everyone,” 

said Luca Maurer (he), a campaign Executive Board member, about this observance.