You should start referring to someone by whatever name and pronouns they affirm when they ask you to do so, not when you decide to. You don’t need to wait until a certain procedure has happened to begin calling someone by their chosen name and pronouns. Respect their choices and let them tell you how they identify. Don’t force an identity on them or act like it’s such hard work or a favor you’re doing for them. If we can change the pronouns we use for people’s pets as soon as we’re corrected or memorize all the different names of Pokémon when they evolve, I think we can make the same effort
...more
