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Hey #DerbyTwitter, a thread about pronouns.
Whenever we're asking people for theirs, we're getting some replies that are less than ideal from cis folks.
Look, I get that your pronouns have never been in question. But for many people in our community - and the world at large - they are, and fun silly answers show your privilege.
Think of our trans friends, many of whom fight daily to be properly recognized. As one friend has put it "I don't inject myself daily to be they'd "
I have other friends who use they pronouns because they are two-spirit or non-binary. For them, using default pronouns that aren't "they" is inappropriate.
And then we ask for your pronouns. And some of you, maybe you don't mean to, make light of the question. I've seen "queen" or "princess" or "sir". These aren't pronouns.
I get that for some (many?) Of you, you don't care. Call you whatever, you say. And that's lovely to have that privilege. But don't force that on everyone else by telling us to call you "boss".
If we're asking for your pronouns it's because we care. Please show that you care by answering that question in good faith.
I'm Mr Whistler, and my pronouns are he/him. I'm a cis male and it costs me nothing to tell you that. Think of your friends for whom it costs far more to say who they are, and answer the question honestly and properly.
As announcers we're asking so we get it right but also to lead by example and do right by people. Every light-hearted answer you give undermines this effort and causes harm for our friends.
So if you needed a bigger clue: the question isn't "what do you want us to call you", but simply "what are your pronouns".
