…for keeping me up-to-date on how to interact with younger folks.
i recently started taking on students from my friend’s music school and i got a new student today. because of tumblr, i noticed a few things that lead me to suspect that this student probably isn’t cis. so, i instigated this conversation:
me: do you prefer to go by [feminine name] or [gender neutral shortening of name]?
student: i go by [gender neutral shortening]…and uhh my friends call me [masculine name that bears no resemblance to deadname], it’s just like—
me: i can call you [masculine name]
student: yeah, but if you call me [masc name], then [my friend, the head of the school] won’t know who you’re talking about…
me: i can use [deadname] with [my friend], and use [masc name] with you
student: really?!? yeah, cool!
at the end of the lesson, i said, “see you next time, [masc name]” and the smile i got in return?? priceless.