Hey babe, I have a trans friend whom I love dearly so I use or at least try to use (it's a new development) her correct pronouns and name but few of my friends actually make an effort to advice?? Much Love <3
How to handle misgendering
Misgendering hurts, but I think most transgender people will – if this is “a new development”, as you say – understand that old habits may sometimes beat the best of intentions. It is the fact that you respect her gender identity that matters the most.
However, if your friends willfully ignore the needs of your trans friend and make no efforts whatsoever to try to be polite, that is a sign of disrespect. It is a sign of aggression. It is not OK at all.
You might ask them how they would feel if you constantly used the wrong pronouns when addressing them. You might ask them how they would react if someone constantly tried to invalidate their sense of self, their very being, their identity.
The misgendering could be caused by lack of knowledge. You could try to provide them with some info on what it means to be transgender. I am sure your trans friend can help you in this respect. You can also find a lot of relevant articles in this blog.
But the misgendering could also be a sign of transphobia. If they cannot muster this kind of respect for your friend, even when you have explained why this matters, I would say they are no friends at all.
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