Vox Pop - Writer answers why we care about pronouns

As a family physician caring for people of all ages and genders, I’d like to address pronouns.

Pronouns are how we express ourselves and how we wish to be acknowledged by others. They don’t determine who we’re attracted to or the gender we were assigned at birth. Some people identify fully as female or male, while others identify as part female and part male.

About 10% of the U.S. population, 6% of active military members, and over 1 million veterans identify as LGBTQ+. The binary view of gender has served purposes over decades but has often excluded people. Why do we categorize each other? It often comes from the human need for safety, sorting people into “same” or “different.” Yet we share over 90% of our genetics, and our places in society are as multi-faceted as we are.

We categorize by sex assigned at birth, gender expression, and who we are attracted to. As a physician, I know there can be differences between someone’s physical appearance and their internal hormones. Gender identity is also about how we live and express ourselves, whether we wear dresses, pants, or both.

It’s no surprise that the binary male-female framework doesn’t capture everyone. Regardless of whether someone identifies as non-binary, queer, trans, gay, or in any other way, we are all human. We build a healthy society when each of us can live as our true selves.

Stand with your neighbor. This is not an issue that should divide us.

— Dr. Mary Landwehr, Chippewa Falls