Pronouns at proof

It is important to us that everyone feel safe, welcome, and seen at Proof. We know that misgendering someone can cause harm, even when no ill-intent is meant. For that reason, we encourage our employees to fully and accurately express themselves by giving them the option of adding their pronouns to email signatures, name tags, and other identifiers to help inform others on how to refer to them appropriately and respectfully.

Why would someone choose to share their pronouns?

Often, we will use “they” or “she” or “he” to refer to someone without knowing what their pronouns are. Names and appearances are often used as a basis for this distinction, but they do not always help determine what pronouns someone actually uses. Alternatively, when someone shares their pronouns with you proactively, you don’t have to guess. Normalizing pronoun identifiers for everyone helps take undue burden off of trans and non-binary folks, and makes it easier for everyone to better see each other for who we are.

What if someone uses more than one pronoun?

If you’re ever unsure which pronoun to use in a list that someone has shared with you, it is okay to ask for clarification. Another thing to keep in mind is that someone’s pronouns can change over time. For example, someone may have used “he” and “him” in the past, but now uses “they” or “them.” In addition, some people may not have an opinion about which pronouns are used for them.

What if I accidentally use the wrong pronoun?

Using the wrong pronoun can be pretty similar to using the wrong name for someone. If you make a mistake, it’s good to quickly apologize and move on, and work to use the right one next time.

Want to learn more?

Check out these links: UCSF // mypronouns.org // glaad