Make pronouns part of the conversation: Badge lanyards and reels now available with pronouns

Penn State Health employees now have the option to order badge lanyards and reels that include pronouns, making their preferred pronouns visible to co-workers and patients.

• Email diversity@pennstatehealth.psu.edu to order badge lanyards or reels with pronouns.

In the workplace and patient-care environment, Penn State Health employees meet people of various backgrounds and experiences. Sometimes people make assumptions about a person’s gender based on their appearance. These assumptions can send a potentially harmful message that people have to look a certain way to demonstrate gender. Using correct personal pronouns is important to ensure every person feels heard, valued and respected.

Choosing to display personal pronouns helps make this topic a part of daily interactions and aids in creating a welcoming and inclusive space for all.

Did you know? According to The Trevor Project, transgender and nonbinary youth who reported having their pronouns respected by all or most of the people in their lives attempted suicide at half the rate of those who did not have their pronouns respected.

Other ways to join the conversation:

• Order pronouns posters or flyers – Available from Penn State Health Printing Services at no cost to your department, these posters and flyers educate and remind the Penn State Health workforce of the need to use the correct pronoun. They show examples of how to use pronouns and best practices in sharing them with others.
• Become a business employee resource group (BERG) member – The LGBTQ+ BERG welcomes new members – both LGBTQ+ employees and allies – to help provide education, information, support and advocacy services that create and maintain a safe, inclusive and equitable environment for LGBTQ+ employees and patients.

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