“Would you look at that?” the waitress says playfully to me. “You gonna let the lady pay for you?” “OK. Hi. Susanna, is it?” Max says with a frustrated but even voice. “Yeah,” she confirms, then taps her name tag. Even though I knew this was coming, I want to melt into a puddle and ooze right out the door. Max begins, “I am transgender. My pronouns are he, him, and his. And here’s my tip to you, free of charge—if a customer is dressed, or presenting, more male than female, then address them with those pronouns. Or use neutral terms like buddy or pal.”
