What’s Your Pronoun? Neopronouns and Pronoun Best Practices in Action

Kelsey Pacha

Training Description

One-in-five Americans know someone personally who goes by a pronoun other than “he” or “she,” and this number increases to 32% among 18- to 29-year-olds. 1 in 4 LGBTQ youth use pronouns or pronoun combinations that fall outside of the male/female gender binary. System involved youth may use they/them, a combination of he/him, she/her, or they/them, or neopronouns such as ze/zir or fae/faer. What if you’ve never used these pronouns before? What if you make a mistake? Is it okay to ask someone about their pronouns? In this training, we will discuss best practices for asking someone about their correct pronoun, how to introduce yourself using gender pronouns, and what to do if you misgender someone in an effort to improve outcomes for affected system involved youth. Participants will also learn more about the history of gender pronouns in English- and non-English-speaking contexts.

Learning Objectives

1. Define neopronouns, nonbinary pronouns, and gender-neutral pronouns.

2. Become familiar with research about use of neopronouns, focusing on system involved youth, as well as the individual and social impacts of using someone’s correct pronouns.

3. Explore the history of gender-neutral pronouns in English & genderless pronouns in languages other than English.

4. Practice using neopronouns and roleplay how to intervene when someone is misgendered.

5. Learn a 5-step process for asking someone about their pronouns and roleplay.

Agenda 

10-11am  Introductions: review objectives, agenda, handouts. Introduction activity: sharing one’s pronoun and discussion. Define pronoun as part of speech, gender identity, and gender pronoun. Research on how using correct pronouns impacts health and well-being for youth.

11-11:40am  Discuss gender pronouns and relationship to gender identity and expression. Best practices to ask people about their pronouns, roleplay.

11:40-11:55am  Break (CEUs will not be offered for this time)

11:55am-12:30pm  Define gender binary, nonbinary. Define gender-neutral pronoun, nonbinary pronoun. History of pronouns in English, pronouns in other languages.

12:30-1pm  Lunch (CEUs will not be offered for this time)

1-2:25pm  Intersection of multiple identities with gender identity, expression, and pronouns. Roleplay on what to do if you get pronouns wrong in small groups & debrief.

2:25-2:40pm  Break (CEUs will not be offered for this time)

2:40-3:20pm  Define neopronouns, practice using in small groups; Video.

3:20-3:30pm  Questions & Answers, evaluations, and wrap up.

Meet Our Trainer

Kelsey Pacha, MA, M.Div. is a trans man who has worked with marginalized communities for 15+ years in a variety of settings. He holds a Master of Religion and Psychology, Master of Divinity, and Certificate of Sexuality and Religion from Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, CA. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Psychological Services from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. He is the owner of Kelsey Pacha Consulting, which supports the work of institutions and individuals in increasing their capacity for cultural humility and social justice-informed institutional change. Kelsey offers educational trainings and LGBTQ workplace policy expertise with an emphasis on practical skills, identity awareness, and personal empowerment. He regularly works with corporate diversity, equity, and inclusion officers and LGBTQ affinity groups, as well as legal, clinical, medical, and direct service

(including child welfare and faith leader) personnel. 

This course meets the qualifications for (4.5) BBS CEUs for LCSWs, LMFTs, LPCCs, and LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences & is provided by Fred Finch Youth Center, CAMFT Provider #045295.