LGBTQ+ History Month: UTHealth Recognizes International Pronouns Day

Editor’s Note: October is LGBTQ+ History Month, providing an opportunity for the campus community to learn more about and celebrate the history, culture, and contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQ+) communities.

UTHealth Houston endeavors to create an environment where everyone in its community has a sense of belonging and inclusion in a welcoming and respectful classroom and workplace.

Throughout October, UTHealth Houston will highlight ongoing efforts to support queer and trans students, staff, and faculty and promote a sense of belonging and inclusion on campus and beyond. As part of LGBTQ+ History Month, Wednesday, Oct. 19, is recognized as International Pronouns Day. First recognized in 2018, National Pronouns Day seeks to make it commonplace to respect, share, and educate others about personal pronouns.

Third-person personal pronouns are used to describe people when talking about or to them. While the he/him and she/her pronouns are common, some individuals choose to use they/them, ze/hir, other pronouns, or a combination. To learn more about sharing and referencing pronouns visit pronouns.org. 

As a commitment to inclusivity and representation among the Many Faces of UTHealth Houston, the university offers an e-mail signature template for students, faculty, staff, and trainees that includes a line for preferred pronouns. This gives all community members the opportunity to have options for self-identification.

Email signature options are available in the UTHealth Houston Brand Standards Toolbox under “Additional Resources.” After logging in, choose the Word file and download by clicking the icon at bottom right on the page.

In addition, UTHealth Houston supports the LGBTQ+ community by offering the option to use a preferred name on ID badges.

To celebrate International Pronouns Day, two school-specific diversity, equity, and inclusion groups will be giving out pronoun pins on Wednesday, Oct. 19.

• The McGovern Medical School Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion group will give out pins from noon to 1 p.m. at its office, in room MSB300.
• The LGBTQ+ Student Alliance at UTHealth Houston MD Anderson Cancer Center Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences will hand out pins from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the commons area.

To get involved in diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts on campus, visit the DEI website or email [email protected].