Best Practices for Trans Inclusion

Image description: Thumbnail image shows trans flag: blue, pink and white bands of color. /end description.

Guide created by Berkeley Journal of Gender, Law & Justice, Student Association of Berkeley Law (SABL), and Queer Caucus

Introduction

Goals: The purpose of this guide is to explain best practices for being inclusive of trans, nonbinary and gender nonconforming students in the classroom. We explain best practices for pronoun usage, gender neutral language, honorifics, and general advice for inclusion. 

Summary of Main Points

  1. Classrooms should be safe and welcoming places for trans, nonbinary and gender nonconforming students.

  2. Many trans students, at Berkeley and elsewhere, report experiences of misgendering, transphobia, and trans exclusion. This guide sets forward some best practices for mitigating those effects inside the classroom.

  3. Using people’s correct pronouns, honorifics, and names is an important way to make them feel included, welcomed, and happier.

  4. The best practice is to ask students their pronouns at the beginning of the semester via a survey. Provide a space for entering students’ pronouns, but leave it optional. It is also a good idea to share your pronouns with the class.

  5. Where possible, use first or last names rather than honorifics. If you want to use honorifics, ask for them in your pronouns in the survey.

  6. Use they/them rather than “he or she” or “he and she” as gender neutral pronouns. They/them is both grammatically correct and has a long history of use as a gender neutral pronoun.

  7. Where possible, use gender neutral language around reproduction, bodies, pregnancy, and similar topics.

  8. It is important to remember students’ pronouns. If you make mistakes, apologize, move on, and try to remember for the future.

For more information, see the full document: Best Practices for Trans Inclusion

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