IGS PRIDE

Pronouns Matter

The gender-specific pronouns society traditionally calls people by—she, her, he, his—aren’t a fit for a lot of people, for a lot of reasons, and all of them matter deeply to those people. Some people prefer not to use gendered pronouns, but simply to go by their names and they/them pronouns. To honor and respect others, we can learn to use their preferred pronouns. Here’s how:

Long before official IGS Energy’s DEBI Communities were born, IGS inbound solutions center specialist Joe Andrion-Robbins was gladly marching with coworkers in the Columbus Pride Parade. They would wear matching T-shirts and make their way through the city, where as many as 750,000 people gather every June for one of the largest Pride celebrations in the nation.

Five years ago, when marketing operations specialist Matt Olms asked IGS leadership for official parade support, he got an unequivocal yes. The IGS marketing department created giant magnets with an IGS Pride logo for the company van, made a banner with the logo in rainbow colors and armed the group with swag and balloons.

So when the DEBI Communities initiative began to roll out in 2022, the IGS Pride Community had a solid start. AndrionRobbins became the Pride Community co-leader along with Katie Williams, an account executive with IGS’ JadeTrack.

IGS Pride is now a 47-member group that includes people who identify as LGBTQIA+ and many allies. The group comes together for virtual coffees, happy hours and service. In 2022, for example, in an event organized by Corey Gordon, members spent a day at the Kaleidoscope Youth Center in downtown Columbus to support young people in the LGBTQIA+ Community or those who may be questioning their identities. The group also marks occasions such as Trans Visibility Day and HIV LongTerm Survivors Awareness Day, and they attend the Human Rights Campaign dinner.

Andrion-Robbins has been out since before high school, where he was bullied for being gay. IGS, he says, is the first place where he feels he’s appreciated.

“There’s genuine love and concern for me,” he says. “I can be who I am authentically and bring that to work every day.”

Don’t make assumptions

How someone looks is not an indication of the pronouns they would like to be called.

Look for signs

People may include their preferred pronouns in their email signature or a nametag, or they may be wearing a button.

Share your pronouns

Introduce yourself with your own pronouns. “Hi! I’m Anne, and I use she/her pronouns.”

Just ask Get comfortable asking people what their preferred pronouns are. It’s OK if you don’t know at first. How would you?

Be thoughtful

When addressing groups, use gender-neutral language instead of ladies, gentlemen and “you guys.” Friends, neighbors, colleagues, folks and y’all are great choices.

Sources: GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network) and GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation)