Dear Gina, My 16-year-old daughter came home from school last week and informed my husband and I that she is no longer a girl. She said she is not a boy either. She said that from now on, we are to use the pronouns “they,” “their” or “them” when we refer to … them. I called the school immediately – a very expensive private school, I might add – and they are fully supportive of their position. I believe people should use the pronouns God gave them. But I’m worried my friends and family will think I’m a bigot, as everyone seems supportive of Cressida’s (now Kris’s) decision. What should I do? Devout and confused





Dear D&C,

Yes, you are confused.

Pronouns are a very simple matter, and the fact is that they/their/them is a perfectly serviceable form of address.

Your daughter, and her school are correct in this matter: poor people cannot afford and do not deserve more than one pronoun, so they/their/them are the correct terms to use for the descendants of people like yourself whose net worth is less than several billion dollars.

For future reference, my preferred pronouns are Mine /Mines/All the mines are mine.



Mine,

Gina



