July is the pique pride season in Vancouver, when the City celebrates gender diversity and sexual expression in our communities.
Providence Health Care (PHC) staff, patients and community members are pausing to think about how they might become more inclusive of 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals and communities.
As part of the Hello My Name is campaign we wanted to highlight a simple way to signal your intent to be inclusive of gender diverse patients, staff and community members. PHC staff are not required to share pronouns or list them on their name tags but if you feel comfortable doing so here’s some things to know.
Example Name Tag:

Below are three easy steps to help you update your name-tag and have your pronouns included on your name-tag.
1. Review at least one resource from the list below on pronouns and gender identity:
How to ask for pronouns in an interview
UBC Video – Beyond the Gender Binary – explains the definition of gender
Best Practices for Non-Binary Inclusion in the Workplace – Steps and Tools for Non-Binary Inclusion
Creating Trans Inclusive Workplaces
2. Now you are ready to update your name tag! Follow the link and complete this form.
3. Wear your NEW PHC Name Tag as often as you can and we encourage you to continue to learn about gender inclusion!
At a Glance FAQ
What is a pronoun?
Gender pronouns refer to the set of pronouns that an individual uses to identify themselves. They reflect the person’s gender identity—one’s internal sense of self and their gender that is not outwardly visible to others.
Some examples of pronouns include: she/her, he/him, they/them, he/they, she/they, she/he/they or any combination of the above. There are also some who do not use pronouns at all as they are not culturally or personally reflective of their identity.
Source: https://connect.phcnet.ca/news/pride-month-pronouns
How do I ask for someone’s pronouns? Isn’t that really awkward?
The only way to know someone’s pronouns for certain is for them to tell you. Gender identity is not outwardly visible. We need to be mindful to not make assumptions about peoples pronouns based on their name or appearance.
Source: https://connect.phcnet.ca/news/pride-month-pronouns
Is PHC requiring that I share my pronouns?
No. Pronoun sharing on Name Tags is optional.