Yes, I use “they/them” pronouns and the reason why I put “and anything with love” is because I appreciate words that can be used to signify community or kinship. Given that I am Black, I often hear phrases (especially from Black older folk) such as “hun” “sweetie” “sugar” and from my peers words like “sister” “sis” “bro” “girl” as a way to signify community or friendship. When I began to use “they/them” pronouns, I was afraid that it would signify that I no longer wanted to be referred to with those community/kinship markers. I look at those markers as a way to signify connection of some sort, and I welcome it. For others who use they/them pronouns, they sometimes prefer not to be referred to by those markers anymore as those markers are also sometimes gendered (for example, the phrase “hun” is often used towards female-identifying people. When using they/them pronouns, sometimes the person no longer identifies as female and therefore do not prefer to use markers such as “hun” to refer to them). SO, I welcome people to use any and all markers when referring to me so long as it is done out of love!

words: Sabyne

image: Sloane