Are you trans and struggle with coming out to your teachers/boss/etc? Do you keep getting misgendered? Here’s a draft of an email I wrote up to send to my professors at school, feel free to use this and reformat it as you wish! It includes some ideas for teachers on how to address their students, a place to talk about your pronouns, information on the trans community, and how to be more trans-friendly.
Dear Mx. [Name],
Congratulations! You have beaten the odds and have a transgender student in your class this [quarter/semester/year]. This is what I look like:
[insert photo of yourself so that if you are in a lecture you can be recognized]
I use [insert pronouns] pronouns. You can use these pronouns in a sentence such as: “[pronoun] have been studying very hard lately.”
The data shows that your chances of having a transgender student in your class are fairly slim, as most estimates place those who identify as transgender around 1% in the United States. Even though that number is small, in comparison to the US population, 325.8 million, you now have one out of the 3 million transgender people in the US learning from you in your classroom!
What does that mean for me?
Realistically, not that much. The reason why I am sending you this information is so that you don’t misgender me or anyone else accidentally.
How can I avoid misgendering people?
Don’t automatically gender people you call on. Instead of using a student for an example and assuming they are a he/she, use the gender neutral “they” pronoun. That way you will avoid accidentally offending someone who may not the gender you assumed they were.
- This does take practice! You can practice this idea by correcting yourself every time you assume someone’s gender, even on your own time.
- For example: “I really like his cup” would become “I really like their cup.”
Don’t use your student’s legal first name when calling role. Instead, use their last name to avoid using the wrong name for them.
When using in class examples for problems, instead of saying he/she, replace that phrasing with the gender neutral “they” pronoun. This is more inclusive of students who do not identify with either he nor she.
- For example: “He/she sold five apples for $5.” would become “They sold five apples for $5.”
If you make a mistake or misgender someone, correct yourself and then continue the conversation. Making a big deal out of your mistake can sometimes be more harmful because then it puts the transgender person in a social position where they have to assure you “it’s fine,” or “it’s okay,” when they may not feel that way. If you are going to apologize to the transgender person, do not make it about yourself or be dramatic in your apology as that takes away from the purpose of your words. Say a quick sorry and then continue to use the correct pronouns.
If someone incorrectly genders another student, correct them. It is hard for transgender people to stand up for themselves, and it helps if they have a person in authority supporting them.
What are other things I can do to help make transgender students comfortable?
- When you introduce yourself to your class include your pronouns. This creates a climate for the class that indicated transgender students are welcome. For example: “Hello my name is Connor and I use he/him pronouns.”
- Sign your email with your pronouns!
- Address emails with the gender inclusive “Mx.” rather than “Ms/Mrs/Mr.”
- Encourage students to introduce themselves with their pronouns when speaking to the class.
- Use gender inclusive language when speaking, such as “hey folks,” “my partner,” and “hello everyone.”
Why should I make these changes?
If you are a teacher you probably believe that student safety is very important. Most likely, you want to make your students feel as safe and comfortable as possible. Transgender students are some of the most vulnerable in your classroom and they often deal with bullying and discrimination on a daily basis. These changes that I mentioned are simple, but make a huge difference in including your transgender students. Even small changes in words and rhetoric can be the difference between a student feeling welcomed into your classroom. Transgender students bring a unique perspective into your class, and when included can make your community that much more diverse and interesting.
Thank you for reading through this email and learning more about your transgender student! For more information about pronouns and transgender issues visit the links provided. I look forward to interacting with you in class this [quarter/semester/year]!
Sincerely,
[Name]
[Pronouns]
