THE DAY. SHANNON: PROJECT COMMUNITY, RECOGNIZING LGBTQ PRIDE MONTH. THIS AFTERNOON, WE’RE TAKING A LOOK AT THE TOPIC OF PRONOUNS. CHANDI: YOU MAY HAVE SEEN PEOPLE INCLUDING THEM IN E-MAILS AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA. PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS 4 ANCHOR JANELLE HALL JOINS US TO EXPLAIN WHY THE PROPER USE OF PRONOUNS MATTERS AND HOW YOU RESPECTFULLY NAVIGATE USING THEM IN A PERSONAL OR PROFESSIONAL SPACE. >> I’M A PARENT OF A TRANSGENDER CHILD. REPORTER: IN HONOR OF HER CHILD AND OTHERS, DR. JOHANNA BURNETT VOLUNTEERS FOR AN ORGANIZATION CALLED P-FLAG PITTSBURGH, WHICH STANDS FOR. >> PARENTS AND FRIENDS OF LESBIANS AND GAYS. REPORTER: AS AN ADVOCATE AND EDUCATOR, DR. BURNETT SPENDS TIME WITH MEMBERS OF THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY, GOING TO CORPORATIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS. >> TO DO TRAINING AND ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS, BASIC TRANS 101 OR GENERAL LGBTQ PRESENTATIONS. REPORTER: WHETHER IT’S THE WORKPLACE VIRTUAL CONFERENCE SCREEN, IN AN EMAIL OR SOCIAL MEDIA PROFILE. WE TALKED TO DR. BURNETT DURING PRIDE MONTH ABOUT USING PRONOUNS UNDER YOUR NAME ON YOUR SCREEN. >> BECAUSE IT NORMALIZES IT. 80% OF TRANSGENDER PEOPLE ARE DISCRIMINATED OR HARASSED AT THEIR WORKPLACE. IT REALLY BREAKS MY HEART. I’VE KNOWN TOO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE AND TOO MANY ADULTS THAT HAVE COMMITTED SUICIDE. THESE STATISTICS AREN’T JUST NUMBERS, THEY’RE LIVES, SO WHEN I SEE PEOPLE THAT PURPOSEFULLY MISGENDER OR MISTREAT TRANSGENDER PEOPLE IT’S A KNIFE TO THE HEART. IT CAN MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH