The use of affirming pronouns has become a highly politicized topic within our cultural zeitgeist. Although the news media may portray pronouns as complex and scary – they are actually simple, approachable, and used within our day-to-day vocabulary, since the vast majority of us have and use affirming pronouns. This session will cover the basics of pronouns, what they are, how they are used, the importance of them especially for the disabled queer and trans community, and more, all in the name of creating more affirming spaces for all people to thrive!    

Arc Telos Saint Amour (they/them) is a neurodivergent, autistic, disabled, queer and trans, Two-Spirit, gender non-conforming person of Mexican Indigenous descent (Coahuiltecan), and a victim/survivor of childhood trauma who deeply believes self-agency and bodily autonomy. They are formerly gang-involved, justice system impacted, and consider themselves to be a harm reductionist and a person who uses drugs as part of their substance use recovery journey. This lived and living experience has led them to a deep belief in Native Indigenous animism, radical empathy, and the power of holistic affirmation. Professionally, Arc Telos spent over ten years as a national executive business developer, opening new businesses all over the US. Following this, Arc Telos spent another ten years as an executive leader in the non-profit field, leading organizations through-out Chicago, New York, Vermont, California, and Michigan centering Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) practices and using trauma-informed and intersectionality-based frameworks. Currently they are the Executive Director of Youth MOVE National and the CEO of Arc Telos Consulting. Telos is of course more than just their career and identities. They are deeply passionate about all genres of music, documentaries, hiking and other outdoor adventures (in which they are infamous for achieving minor injuries and the loss of shoes), absolutely refusing to be anyone other than Princess Peach in Mario Kart or Mario Party, and consider themselves to be within the top 100 of all time high context ramblers that has an opinion on just about anything and everything.