Pronouns are one of the ways we portray our identities. When someone asks you to use their pronouns, they are asking for you to respect their identity. Therefore, using someone's correct pronouns communicates respect, shows the person that they belong, and allows you to properly connect. 

Pronouns are a way people can refer to each other or themselves, when not using their name. We use them so we don't have to repeat a person's name over and over again in a sentence. It is important to note that anyone can use pronouns; it is not exclusive to only LGBTQ+ folks or specific gender identities

Example: "Hi, my name is Mark. My pronouns are they/them. How about you?" "Hello, my name is Gianna. My pronouns are she/they. Thank you for asking!"

Using someone's correct chosen name is important because it communicates respect, shows the person that they belong, and allows you to properly connect. Therefore, you should use someone's chosen name if you know it - especially if it is different from their legal name. If you make a mistake: apologize, correct yourself, and move on. Practice using the person's chosen name to avoid making mistakes in the future. 

The name a person should be known as. This may or may not be different than their legal name. It is important to note that anyone can have a chosen name; it is not exclusive to only LGBTQ+ folks or specific gender identities.