Celebrating International Pronouns Day with Queer at Favor
By Rain Pletcher, Nesting Lead and Queer at Favor co-chair
In honor of LGBTQ History Month and International Pronouns Day, Queer at Favor — an employee resource group (ERG) dedicated to celebrating LGBTQIA+ culture and building bridges between its members and allies — is recognizing all the ways Runners exist and bring their authentic selves on the road with them.
I’ve been a part of the Runner Support team for about four years and if you’re a longtime Runner in the Austin market, we’ve probably chatted at some point! For me, starting to use they/them pronouns came later in life. While I was aware of ze/zir and they/them as alternate pronoun sets, choosing them as the right fit for me only happened about five years ago — and the process was a lot like coming out all over again.
Queer at Favor members understand the amount of stress this journey can take and want to help ensure that experience as a Runner is as smooth as possible.
Why pronouns matter
Using correct pronouns can save lives.
According to a study by the University of Texas at Austin, incorrect pronoun usage can lead to anxiety, dysphoria, lowered self-esteem, and other negative feelings. Correct pronoun usage has been shown to reduce both suicidal ideation and attempts in trans adults, as well as reduce depression and improve overall quality of life.
Using pronoun markers when you aren’t part of the queer community helps normalize the practice. When only trans and gender-nonconforming folks use pronoun identification, it becomes a process that marks them as different from others.
Further, being misgendered is not unique to the queer community by any means. Many cisgender people can feel disrespected when being called by the wrong pronoun or honorific in conference calls, drive-thrus, and other places. While it may not result in the same degree of harm felt by trans people, it can still be demoralizing and hurtful.
Name changes in the Runner app
No one should have to use their dead name — a name that no longer matches their identity — while running. We’ve had questions from Runners about how to update this in the Runner app, and fortunately, it could not be easier.
Currently, only the first initial of your last name is visible to customers on the Favor app, but you may include your pronouns after your last name to make them visible to the Runner Support team when you interact with them. This lets our team members know how to best address you and should help eliminate any unwanted misgendering.
To make this update in the Runner app, tap the icon (three lines) in the top left corner of the screen, then select View Profile and View and Edit Personal Info. From there, you can edit your personal information to represent your real name.
If you have any trouble, you can also reach out to Support anytime through the Runner Help Center.
Share your pronouns with us
At Favor, we have an open culture of sharing pronouns — and want to make sure Runners have the opportunity and feel welcome to share theirs. At the same time, we want to be mindful not to encourage people to out themselves when they don’t feel comfortable doing so.
If you wish to introduce yourself with your pronouns to your customers, we recommend adding them to your introductory message templates. This will allow you to control when and if you want to use them. You can learn more about setting up message templates in the Runner Help Center.
Queer at Favor regularly gives back to the community through organizations like Out Youth — an Austin nonprofit that works to create safe spaces for young people to discover themselves and find acceptance — and we’re always looking to expand our horizons. Know an organization in your area we should add to our list? Drop them in the comments below!
