Foothills Style Guide

This is an in-process and imperfect guide 

Communicating About Gender

Always write in ways that affirm people’s self-identified gender, center inclusion, and avoid language rooted in assumption, erasure, or biological essentialism.

Core Commitments

Respect self-identification.
Use the name, pronouns, and identity terms people choose for themselves—always.

Center inclusion, not explanation.
Write with the assumption that trans and nonbinary people belong, not as if their inclusion needs justification.

Use plain language that affirms dignity, not technical jargon.

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✅ DO

Say “trans and nonbinary people” when referring to all who are not cisgender.

Use “they” as a singular pronoun when gender is unknown or when someone uses they/them.

Use phrases like:

“All who identify as…”

“People of all genders”

“Trans, cis, and nonbinary people alike”

Say “sex assigned at birth” instead of “biological sex.”

Refer to reproductive health using “people who can get pregnant” rather than “women,” when gender diversity is relevant.

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❌ DON’T

Don’t say “transgenders,” “the transgendered,” or “preferred pronouns.”
Say: “transgender people” and “pronouns.”

Don’t refer to someone’s past name or gender without consent.
That includes “before they transitioned” or “used to be a woman.”

Don’t say “born a man/woman,” “biological male/female,” or “opposite sex.”

Don’t write “women and trans women.”
Say: “all women, including trans women.”