How to avoid / decline stating pronouns or gender in meetings, forms, signatures etc:

[JFDIYOLO]

'I don't do that, in support of those who have not yet made their decision - requiring a public statement could force those who haven't decided yet, to either prematurely out themselves, or lie about themselves for protection.'

'No thank you, it would be like being required to add 'I believe in God the father, God the son, etc' on my emails. I don't share that belief system either, and belief is of course a protected characteristic.'

When faced with a form asking your 'gender', go for Other - and if there is a freestyle box, add in 'I do not have a gender. My sex is ...'

'I don't agree with imposing compelled speech. I abstain.'

'No.'

What would you do?

Followed by a shrug...

Because why play the silly game?

Yes I agree

But that would be part of my reason for not. I have multiple reasons for not adding my pronouns. Would take a while to list them all.

If people want to, they can. If they don't want to, they shouldn't have to explain it.

Many people will know adding pronouns is a trans thing and if they don't, they are likely to be confused about the question. Their ignorance of the issue will be obvious.

If somebody pushes the point IMO they would be seeking to label you transphobic. I am not transphobic.

Why would I lie? My best friends child is going through this exact struggle at the moment and their pronouns (or anyones) is no one else’s business. It’s a deeply personal matter and no one has a right to demand what another person’s pronouns are.

I just ignore. If it’s a meeting where we’re going around the table saying who we are, I give my name (and affiliation if relevant) and nothing more. I’ve never been challenged. If I were, I would say I didn’t feel
comfortable.

The problem with "I don't mind how I'm referred to" is that I would mind if someone referred to me as anything other than she, because I am a woman. I would be insulted. So it isn't true to say. However, I would not want to be compelled to use language I understand to be false. I would probably say I'm not on board with sharing pronouns and leave it at that. I am noting the words true and false in this post. These are meaningful words to me.

Personally I think we need to move away from this veneration of the pronoun not encourage it. How are pronouns deeply personal? In this context they are just words that people use in place of a person’s name. I suspect most people didn’t even know what a pronoun was 15 years ago and it’s absurd that in such a short space of time they’ve become a tool to manipulate and control other people’s language to the point where, in some countries, you are at risk of criminal conviction by not using the “correct” pronouns.