This guide was created with help from GLAAD. Alex Schmider, associate director of transgender representation at GLAAD, compares using someone's correct pronouns to pronouncing their name correctly – 'a way of respecting them and referring to them in a way that's consistent and true to who they are.' Glossary of gender identity terms Proper use of gender identity terms, including pronouns, is a crucial way to signal courtesy and acceptance. Our goal is to help people communicate accurately and respectfully with one another. That's why we've put together a glossary of terms relating to gender identity. These issues can involve words and ideas and identities that are new to some. Issues of equality and acceptance of transgender and nonbinary people - along with challenges to their rights - have become a major topic in the headlines. 'And when you're speaking to people, it's a really simple way to affirm their identity.' It's how someone refers to you in conversation,' says Mary Emily O'Hara, a communications officer at GLAAD. 'Pronouns are basically how we identify ourselves apart from our name.
