Primary care services should use gender-neutral language. This approach helps avoid assumptions about someone’s gender identity or pronouns and fosters an atmosphere of respect for diverse gender identities. For example, use terms like ‘partner’ instead of ‘boyfriend’ or ‘girlfriend’.

Primary care providers should create opportunities for individuals to provide their pronouns on intake forms and encourage staff to use correct pronouns when interacting with clients. Respecting pronouns is crucial for validating their identities.

• A person may use more than one set of pronouns, e.g. “they/she.”
• Pronouns can change over time based on a person’s gender identity.
• A person’s appearance does not necessarily reflect their pronouns, so it’s essential to ask and use the correct ones.
• Pronouns are not simply preferences; they are an essential aspect of a person’s identity.

Practical tips:

• Introduce yourself with your pronouns to make that person feel comfortable sharing theirs with yours
• Use pronouns in email signature and online meetings
• If you misgender someone, it’s best not to make a big deal out of it. Apologise and correct yourself, then move on respectfully.

Do not make assumptions based on a person’s gender identity or sexual orientation based on their appearance or behaviour. Gender expression does not dictate one’s identity, and assumptions can be harmful and dismissive.

It can be common for some LGBTIQA+ people to feel like they need to ‘act straight’ to receive IPV support. Primary care services should not pressure LGBTIQA+ individuals to conform to cis gendered and heteronormative identities to access IPV support.

Primary care providers should actively listen to their clients and adopt client-led approaches. This ensures that support for LGBTIQA+ individuals is tailored to their specific experiences with IPV and their LGBTIQA+ identity.