Gender and Sexuality
On This Page:
- Overview
- Pronouns
- Gender-Neutral and Gender-Inclusive Language
- Other Gender-Neutral Words
- Terms
- Resources
Overview
Ask people how they wish to be referred to in your article, including their pronouns and names. Recognize that these may differ from the pronouns or names in their signature, or how the person may have been introduced to you by someone else.
Mention sexual orientation and gender identity only if relevant to the story. If so, use “sexual orientation” rather than “sexual preference.”
Avoid the phrases “identifies as” or “prefers” a gender and simply state someone’s identity.
Avoid binary sex/gender terms or words that imply only two sexes/genders.
Not: Kacey prefers he/him pronouns.
But: Kacey uses he/him pronouns.
Use the acronym LGBTQ2SIA+ in stories about Pride events or any topics that cover sexuality and/or gender identity, where it makes sense.
Avoid stigmatized/outdated/incorrect terms.
If someone uses a term or phrase for themselves that is different from those listed here, respect what they use for themselves.
Pronouns
As mentioned above, ask your source their pronouns and what name they would like used in your story. Respect what people say. This may include using the pronouns they, ze, fae or other gender-neutral pronouns. Ensure you conjugate these correctly (see minus18.org.au/pronouns-app/).
Use the person’s gender-affirming pronoun as well as their name in your story. Aim for clarity as well as sensitivity and inclusivity.
Not: “A student must declare his or her major before the start of the third term.”
But: “A student must declare their major before the start of the third term.”
Sometimes you can make the subject plural: Students must declare their major before the start of their third term. Or eliminate the reference to gender-specific pronouns: A student must declare a major before the start of third term. Or use only the person’s surname throughout the story, although do so sparingly to avoid repetitiveness.
Gender-Neutral and Gender-Inclusive Language
Binary language implies only two sexes and/or genders. Avoid references to “both sexes/genders,” “either sex/gender,” or “opposite sex/gender.” Instead, use the phrase “all sexes/genders” (depending on context and what is being communicated).
When writing speeches or addressing formal audiences, use inclusive, gender-neutral language such as “welcome to all our guests” or “distinguished guests.” Avoid addressing a crowd as “ladies and gentlemen.”
Variants of alumnus/alumna reflect Latin origins. “Alumnus” means one graduating man; “alumna,” one graduating woman. “Alumni” refers to a group of grads, including at least one man. “Alumnae” refers only to multiple women graduates.
Look for ways to use “graduate,” “grad” or even the colloquial “alum.”
Other Gender-Neutral Words
| Choose | Instead of |
|---|---|
| Actor | actress |
| Birth name | maiden name |
| Chair | chairman |
| Flight attendant | Steward or stewardess |
| Garment worker | seamstress |
| Letter carrier | mailman |
| Manufactured | man-made |
| People, humanity | man or mankind |
| Police officer, firefighter | Policeman, fireman |
| Server | Waiter or waitree |
Do not use girl unless referring to a female 18 or younger. From 18 up, use woman. If an interviewee uses “girl ‘or ‘girls” inappropriately, paraphrase.
Use fellow in formal appointments such as Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada but otherwise avoid this word with its male connotation. Instead of fellow students, staff or faculty, use peers, colleagues, co-workers, associates, etc. Or use other: The Guelph professors are working with other researchers across Canada. Instead of post-doctoral fellow, use post-doctoral researcher or post-doc whenever possible.
Do not assume that spouses or married people use the same surname. Is the person’s marital or family status (single, married, divorced) relevant to the story? If so, ask the interviewee what term they use to refer to their spouse (partner, husband, wife).
Often, masculine nouns and pronouns preceded the feminine equivalent (husband and wife, his and hers). Look to alternate your word order between feminine and masculine.
A note about animals: Use the pronouns they/them/their to refer to an animal, not it/its. Gendered pronouns are appropriate if used in a quote, if used in the kind of story where it seems appropriate to humanize the animal, or where the sex is known. (i.e. The queen bee left her hive. The stag charged at his rival.)
Terms
Gender identity: A person’s sense of their gender, or lack thereof.
Cisgender: A person whose gender identity corresponds to the sex they were assigned at birth.
Transgender (not “transgendered”): A person whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth.
Gender non-conforming: A person whose gender identity and/or expression may not conform to the gender binary, or expectations about gender and gender expression. Someone who is gender non-conforming may or may not also identify as trans and/or non-binary.
Non-binary: Both a specific gender identity and an umbrella term. Non-binary describes individuals who do not exclusively or wholly identify as men or as women (binary genders).
Queer: An adjective used by some people to describe their sexuality when they do not identify as heterosexual or straight. Once considered a pejorative term, queer has in recent years been reclaimed by LGBTQ2IA+ people to describe themselves.
Two-Spirit (not “two-spirited”): An adjective used by some Indigenous and First Nations people to describe people who are not straight and/or cisgender. Two-spirit has different meanings depending on the Indigenous person, nation, region and/or territory and should only be used in reference to an Indigenous person.
Resources
- Student Experience: LGBTQ2IA+ Students
- 519 Toronto Media Reference Guide (appropriate and inappropriate language for discussing trans and gender-diverse people)
- GLAAD Media Reference Guide
- HRC’s Brief Guide to Getting Transgender Coverage Right
