New BC ruling makes it mandatory to share your pronouns in court

The official procedure didn't have a formal way to share gender pronouns, which has now been rectified as of Dec. 16.

According to CTV News, Lisa Nevens, a non-binary lawyer based out of Vancouver who uses "they/them/their", commented:

"Your job as a lawyer is to represent your clients, not to make statements about your own identity. You have to debate with yourself, whether you should assert your correct pronouns and gender identity in court, so that you're properly recognized or whether that's a distraction from the client."

"My conclusion was that I would do a better job for my client, if I'm not thinking about being misgendered."

Nevins feels that with the new rules, it will be easier to "focus on their work and getting through the proceedings," since the rule in question “extends to anyone who walks in the door of the court system, whether they're doing it for their own volition or not," according to Nevens.

“I hope it signals that you can be you and be a lawyer,” said Nevens, referring to other trans and/or non-binary people who may be thinking about law as a profession.