A new survey from the Trevor Project indicates that about a quarter of LGBTQ+ youth use gender-neutral pronouns, a significant finding when coupled with an earlier study that shows significant improvements to mental health among youth whose pronouns are honored by those around them.
The latest survey, “Pronouns Usage Among LGBTQ Youth,” shows that most young people still use a binary he/him or she/her. But among 25% of those surveyed, 16% use a combination of he, she, and they; 5% use only they/them, and 4% use neopronouns like ze/zir and xe/xim.
Survey participants were LGBTQ+ youth between the ages of 13 and 24 in the United States, with 40,001 people sampled.
“Respecting pronouns is part of creating a supportive and accepting environment, which impacts well-being and reduces suicide risk,” the report says, adding that “the best way to confirm a person’s pronouns is by asking or by introducing yourself with your pronouns, to give the person an opportunity to share theirs.”
An earlier study, “National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health 2020,” shows that trans and nonbinary youth who reported that their pronouns were honored by people in their lives attempted suicide at half the rate of those whose pronouns were not respected. Access to binders, shapewear, and gender-affirming clothing was also correlated with reduced risk of suicide attempts.
But worryingly, only one in five trans and nonbinary youth reported that their pronouns were respected by all or most people in their lives. Among respondents, 7% said that nobody respected their pronouns.
This survey comes on the heels of some high-profile boosts to the prominence of gender-neutral pronouns. Late last year, Merriam-Webster updated their entry for “they,” expanding the definition to note that it can refer to nonbinary people.
The American Psychological Association endorsed the use of “they” as well in 2019. “If you are writing about a person who uses ‘they’ as their pronoun, then yes, you have to use it,” wrote APA content manager Chelsea Lee. “Respectful and inclusive language is important. And it’s part of APA Style.”
Also last year, Sam Smith announced on Instagram that they use the pronoun they, writing that “after a lifetime of being at war with my gender, I've decided to embrace myself for who I am, inside and out.” The Associated Press covered the announcement but misgendered Smith throughout the article, later offering a correction.
The AP stylebook has recognized the use of “they” since 2017; also that year, the American Dialect Society named “they” as Word of the Year.
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