What are gender pronouns?

A pronoun is a word that refers to either the people talking (I or you) or someone or something that is being talked about (she, it, them, and this). English speakers are most familiar with "he" and "she" as gendered pronouns to refer to individuals, but some people use pronouns outside of that binary, such as "ze" or a singular "they."

For more information about gender pronouns, visit Trans Student Educational Resources.

Why did you include gender pronouns in your email signature?

Sharing gender pronouns in one's email signature is a quick way to inform others what pronouns one uses. Often, people will make assumptions about pronouns based on a person's name, but these assumptions are not always accurate.

For more information about including gender pronouns in email signatures and personal introductions, visit UCSF's LGBT Resource Center's page about pronouns in email signatures.

For more information about why gender pronouns are important, see the article "Here's Why Gender Pronouns Are So Important" by Alison Caporimo.

In 2017, MHL hosted a "Meet Your Transgender Neighbors" event. Click here for video of that event and a supplemental reading list.