ABSTRACT
Gender-neutral pronouns (GNPs) are the stuff of dreams for some, and for others they are the annoyance of the century. The policies appearing in the Editorial “Language and trans health” describe the spirit with which a conscientious writer should approach trans people as subjects. Historically speaking, most linguistic changes that are destined to last for a generation or more are those changes that develop strong roots in the collective unconsciousness before they spring forth in full flower. Modeling new or alternative ways of using language is effective, as Moser and Devereux aptly demonstrate, urging International Journal of Transgenderism to take a firm position and offer a model GNP scheme. The term transgender was rejected by many trans people when it came to public attention in the early 1990s. So was cisgender just a decade ago. Alternative pronoun schemes have come and gone.
