Half of the US Democratic candidates in the fourth debate list their pronouns on Twitter
Democratic Candidates Bernie Sanders, former Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, and South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg at the Democratic Presidential Debate. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty)
Six out of 12 of the Democratic candidates that qualified for the fourth Democratic debate on Tuesday (October 15) have their pronouns listed on Twitter in solidarity with the trans community.
Elizabeth Warren (she/her), Kamala Harris (she/her), Pete Buttigieg (he/him), Julián Castro (he/him/él), Cory Booker (he/him) and Tom Steyer (he/him) are the Democratic candidates with their pronouns in their Twitter bios.
Misgendering a trans person by using the wrong pronouns can cause increased dysphoria and mental health problems.
It has been proven that consistently using the correct name and pronouns for trans people can reduce their rates of anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts to almost the same levels as their cisgender counterparts.
October 16 was International Pronouns Day, and Warren marked the occasion by writing a post on Twitter that said: “Every person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, and that starts with using correct pronouns.
“I’m Elizabeth. My pronouns are she/her/hers. And I’ll keep fighting to build an America where everyone feels seen and respected.”
Every person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, and that starts with using correct pronouns.
I'm Elizabeth. My pronouns are she/her/hers. And I'll keep fighting to build an America where everyone feels seen and respected. #PronounsDay
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) October 16, 2019
Julián Casto said it “isn’t difficult” to use someone’s correct pronouns
Castro also posted on Pronouns Day, and wrote: “Using someone’s correct pronouns—and giving your own—isn’t difficult. I’m Julián Castro, he/him/él.
“It takes one extra breath to help people feel seen and respected. I think that’s worth it.”
Using someone’s correct pronouns—and giving your own—isn’t difficult.
I’m Julián Castro, he/him/él.
It takes one extra breath to help people feel seen and respected. I think that’s worth it. #PronounsDay pic.twitter.com/02v65k3HXx— Julián Castro (@JulianCastro) October 16, 2019
My pronouns are she, her, and hers. #EqualityTownHall— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) October 11, 2019
The candidates involved in the fourth Democratic debate who do not have their pronouns in their Twitter bios are Joe Biden, Amy Klobuchar, Beto O’Rourke, Bernie Sanders, Andrew Yang and Tulsi Gabbard.
In contrast, none of the 2020 Republican candidates have pronouns listed on their Twitter pages, and Joe Walsh wrote on Twitter in 2016: “Professor refuses to use gender-less pronouns. Faculty & students try to get him fired. That’s one brave professor.”
The PinkNews Awards 2019 also took place on International Pronouns Day, and Jeremy Corbyn made headlines when he introduced himself with his pronouns.
