Pride month: impact of pronouns
Dr. Johanna Burnett is the mother of a transgender child and an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. She spoke with Pittsburgh's Action News 4 anchor Janelle Hall about the impact of pronoun usage.
Burnett said that using the correct pronouns can save a life.
"Eighty percent of transgender people are discriminated or harassed at their workplace. it really breaks my heart," Burnett said.
She volunteers as an educator for P-FLAG in Pittsburgh, an organization for the allies of LGBTQ members. P-FLAG stands for "Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays".
Video player above: Interview with Dr. Johanna Burnett on the impact of pronouns
Burnett also conducts basic 'trans 101' training and general LGBTQ+ presentations at different corporations and organizations in Pittsburgh.
"I know too many young people and too many adults that have committed suicide. These statistics aren't just numbers — they're lives" she said. “I can’t stress this enough ... it can mean the difference between life and death."