• LGBTQIA+

  Ally Tip: Avoid saying “Identify as”

  Posted by Shane Farmer on June 17, 2022 at 10:06 am

  Hey y’all,?

  Another ally tip from Karen Catlin (she/her), Author of Better Allies. Today she shares with us to refrain from saying people identify as. I thought it was definitely interesting because I use this verbiage frequently and thought it was a way to be inclusive. Her suggestion definitely has me rethinking how I refer to people. Here is the tip below. What do y’all think?

  Avoid using “identify as” A quick Google search for “women and those who identify as women” yields over 100,000 results. It’s a popular phrase to describe employee resource groups and professional events for women and transgender women. I’m sure I’ve used it myself more than once. Yet, as I recently learned from a post on Twitter and a subsequent discussion in a Slack group I belong to, this phrase is not as inclusive as we might think it is. A transgender woman does not identify as a woman. By contrast, a transgender woman is a woman. By using “identify as,” we’re making a distinction between that person and the people we believe are women, which could be code for transphobia. Instead of saying “women and those who identify as women,” consider using “all women.” For example, “This event is open to all women.” To be extra clear, you can add, “Yes, this includes transgender women because transgender women are women.” Interested in learning more about how to be an ally to transgender people? Check out GLAAD’s Tips for Allies of Transgender People.

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  Shane Farmer (He/Him/His)
  Associate Director of Operations
  Clemson University
  Clemson SC
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  Shane Farmer replied 4 years ago 1 Member · 0 Replies
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