In early 2018 I knew I was nonbinary, but was still using she/her pronouns, even though I was growing increasingly uncomfortable with their use. Why?

Because I was incredibly resistant to switching to they/them.

I knew asking everyone to use they/them pronouns for me would bring a new level of discomfort to my life. Having to explain it to people, to have to decide if and when I should correct someone who used she/her (especially if they’ve known me for years with those pronouns). Having to take on the emotional labor for others when they say, “This is hard, it doesn’t come naturally to me.”

But my discomfort with she/her outweighs all of this.

To be clear, I absolutely understand it takes time to adjust to using “singular they.” I myself continue to practice it on a regular basis.

What’s exhausting is when I hear how hard it is for others. I KNOW. I feel a strong sense of “blah” every time I hear it. The voice in my head goes: “I’m such a pain, I’m so annoying, I’m asking for too much.”

I know folks don’t mean for that to happen when they say it’s too much. But to me, it still goes to a place of feeling like I’M too much.

The key is to practice. If you know someone who uses they/them pronouns, use them consistently whether you are talking to them, about them, writing about them, or even thinking about them.

You can also use they/them pronouns for anyone who’s pronouns you don’t know. It turns out you don’t know a LOT of people’s pronouns. Because unless they tell you, you don’t know what they are. Your restaurant server, your barista, the person sitting next to you on the bus, the person who delivers your mail. Practice EVERY DAY using they/them pronouns with the people you encounter until you have confirmation of which ones they use.

Once again, I really do appreciate you reading this and taking the time to think on it