<p>By Lui Francesco Matsuo and Lauren Carpenter</p> <p>Creating an environment at gatherings and events that is affirming of transgender people is extremely important. It takes more than just welcoming transgender people with a smile to create an environment that is truly welcoming and affirming so the Transgender Support Caucus has compiled a few tips. Some of these tips may require you to make changes to the way you have done things for years and may require some individuals to step outside their comfort zone but implementing them will make a big difference in making sure that the T is truly valued in our LGBTQ communities. We hope that you will read through the tips and start to implement them whenever you gather regardless of whether or not you think a transgender person will be present.</p> <ol> <li><strong>Prepare name tags with a pronoun section or with pronoun buttons or stickers.</strong><br /> If the name tag has a pre-printed pronoun section it feels more welcoming. It helps to prevent people from being misgendered and makes it the norm to be aware of what pronouns people use. Do not label it preferred pronoun. This is not something that we prefer; it is our pronoun!&nbsp;</li> <li> <p><strong>During introductions educate your group members to include their pronouns after their names (e.g. My name is Lui and my pronoun is he.).</strong><br /> Oftentimes the saying of pronouns is only done by people who are trans but this forces out a trans person regardless of their wishes. If everyone says their pronouns it creates a welcoming environment and helps prevent the misgendering of people from the start of the event or gathering.&nbsp;</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Make sure an All Genders Welcome bathroom is available.</strong><br /> Make sure to let people know where it is (through announcements or in printed material) and that it is in an easy-to-access location not hidden away. If the location of your event or gathering doesnt have All Gender Welcome bathroom you may take it as an opportunity for you to educate the venue staff about trans awareness. And if the place doesnt understand then your community can research other places to meet.&nbsp;</p> </li> </ol> <p>If you have created an All Genders Welcome bathroom by placing a sign on an otherwise gendered bathroom have a two-person team by the All Genders Welcome bathroom entrance area so that when hateful words are spoken the team can say Hey can we talk about that? and direct them away from the entrance. This will make the bathroom truly safe for trans people. (Remember: An All Genders Welcome sign alone does not guarantee welcome or safety for trans folks!)</p>