Why Using the Right Pronouns Might Not Get the Reaction You Expect

Panel 1

(Rhea and Terry are sitting at a diner eating hotdogs. Rhea is leaning back with a frustrated expression)

Rhea: Ugh, I’m so tired of getting misgendered all the time!

Terry: I hear you. Maybe if you pushed it more with your friends..?

Rhea: I feel so awkward though!

Panel 2

Rhea: It’s just that so few people are used to using gender neutral pronouns, it’s a whole new language for them. Even when I stick to they/them/theirs, then I just get lectured about “good grammar” all the time. Nevermind that it’s been used as a singular pronoun for centuries!* (*seriously, check it out! wikipedia.org/wiki/Singular_they is a starting point)

Panel 3

Rhea: And some folks act like it’s such a big deal that when they do get it right, I feel obligated to put on a big show about it.

(In the background, an exaggerated image of Rhea): Hallelujah, you didn’t misgender me!

Rhea: It’s exhausting. I just want to exist without all the extra, you know?

Panel 4

Terry: I can see that. I don’t exactly drop to my knees and thank the heavens every time someone calls me “he.” I don’t see why it should be any different for trans folks.

Rhea: Exactly.

Panel 5

(An image of Rhea looking genuinely touched, butterflies and sunshine in the background, as someone off-screen says “they”)

Rhea: And maybe some days I do feel like praising the heavens that someone got it right. I need to hear it sometimes.

Panel 6

(An image of Rhea talking in front a movie theater listing for “How to Train Your Dragon 2” in the winter)

Rhea: …But other times, I just want to be like: Yeah, yeah, cool, but how do you feel about the way the plot structure of that movie ultimately undermined its main themes?

Panel 7

(Terry smiles playfully at Rhea)

Terry: Pfft, it’s almost like you’re more than just your gender identity or something.

Rhea: Weird, right?