Welcome to 1776!
Our amazing company is made up of female, trans, and non-binary individuals. As you read the program, you may notice that the cast, crew, and creative teams list their pronouns next to their names. We recognize that this might be new to some of our audiences and want to take the opportunity to highlight some concepts around pronouns and gender expansiveness.
What do you mean by “gender expansiveness”?
There are an infinite amount of ways that people experience gender. Here is a glossary of some terms that you may hear when discussing gender:
- Gender Identity: A person’s internal sense of their self and their gender.
- Non-binary: An umbrella gender identity that does not conform to the false idea that there are only two genders, male and female. Some other terms that fall under the non-binary umbrella are agender, genderqueer, gender-fluid, pangender, or gender non-conforming.
- Trans or Transgender: A person whose gender identity differs with their gender assigned at birth. Some people who identify as non-binary may also identify as trans.
- Cis or Cisgender: A person whose gender identity aligns with their gender assigned at birth.
- Pronouns: Pronouns are the words we use to talk about people aside from using their names (ex: she/her, he/him, they/them, and many more.) Sometimes pronouns correlate with someone’s gender identity, and sometimes they don’t.
Why are pronouns important?
Respecting people’s pronouns is a very important sign of respect. Some people use one set of pronouns, and some people use multiple interchangeably. Since we can’t tell what language people use for themselves based on their appearance, it may be helpful to ask people their pronouns or offer your own upon introduction.
I’m not used to introducing myself with my pronouns, I’m a little intimidated by the idea.
Like anything new, it takes practice and consistency to create a habit. You can practice right now with yourself or your neighbor! Try it by filling in the blanks below:
“Hi, I’m ____(insert name) and I use ____ (they/them, she/her, he/him, etc.) pronouns. It’s nice to meet you!”.
I’ve never used they/them
pronouns for someone before.
That’s totally okay! Here’s an example you can practice saying out loud:
“I really loved Ronnie’s performance. They were so funny, and their costume was incredible. I hope I get to meet them at the stage door!”
The more you practice, the more it will become a regular part of your routine. If you’d like more practice, visit practicewithpronouns.com!
The above is only a small fraction of information and education around gender. For more information, visit the websites linked below:
GLAAD Transgender FAQ
GLAAD Tips for Allies of Transgender People
Pronoun Island
Queer Eye for Theatre Critics: 4 Writing Tips
Gender Explosion Initiative
This document was made in collaboration between Roundabout, Rebecca Hunt, and the gender expansive individuals within the 1776 company.