Keywords:
allies, preferred pronouns, support, classroom climate, preferred name, school climate, school forms, inclusivity
allies, preferred pronouns, support, classroom climate, preferred name, school climate, school forms, inclusivity
Transcript
Tara: So friends, some of them have been very careful in terms of trying to use your name, Dan, trying to use the pronouns you prefer. What about your classmates?
Dan: They’ve been pretty good. Especially now that on the attendance sheet and everything my name is Dan. So they hear at the beginning of the semester the teacher call out ‘Dan’ and me go, “Hey, I’m here”. So they automatically, from day one, associate that name with me for the newer ones. For the classmates I grew up with it has been difficult. Especially because they’re not around me all day like, ones that just kind of you know, that are just kind of there. So I do still get my old name sometimes. But like, I completely understand that. It’s hard to get used to. I’ll just give them a little reminder, like “Dan”. And they’re like “Oh yeah, sorry”. I haven’t really had many problems with people being like, “no I’m gonna call you this and that’s what you are”. Not at all, everyone’s been pretty--
Chantale: No I think within the school, it’s been really great. Like I said, even the fact that she was able to change it, um, on her documents and report card and all her school things to Dan. That was very smooth.
Dan: Without it even being legal yet.
Chantale: No actually, I think Dan did it before she even told me that she did it.
Dan: Yeah, I did.
Chantale: So the school was very supportive.
Tara: So friends, some of them have been very careful in terms of trying to use your name, Dan, trying to use the pronouns you prefer. What about your classmates?
Dan: They’ve been pretty good. Especially now that on the attendance sheet and everything my name is Dan. So they hear at the beginning of the semester the teacher call out ‘Dan’ and me go, “Hey, I’m here”. So they automatically, from day one, associate that name with me for the newer ones. For the classmates I grew up with it has been difficult. Especially because they’re not around me all day like, ones that just kind of you know, that are just kind of there. So I do still get my old name sometimes. But like, I completely understand that. It’s hard to get used to. I’ll just give them a little reminder, like “Dan”. And they’re like “Oh yeah, sorry”. I haven’t really had many problems with people being like, “no I’m gonna call you this and that’s what you are”. Not at all, everyone’s been pretty--
Chantale: No I think within the school, it’s been really great. Like I said, even the fact that she was able to change it, um, on her documents and report card and all her school things to Dan. That was very smooth.
Dan: Without it even being legal yet.
Chantale: No actually, I think Dan did it before she even told me that she did it.
Dan: Yeah, I did.
Chantale: So the school was very supportive.