Respecting people’s names and pronouns is essential to honoring their identities, yet many still resist this practice.

Bennett Kaspar-Williams, 37, and his husband Malik welcomed their son Hudson in October 2020. Though he identified as male and marked “male” on medical forms, hospital staff repeatedly misgendered him, calling him “mom” instead of “dad.”

Kaspar-Williams, who began transitioning in 2014, found pregnancy both rewarding and challenging. He emphasized that womanhood and motherhood should not be seen as interchangeable,

as not all women can or want to be mothers, and not all who give birth identify as women.His experience highlights the need for greater awareness and sensitivity in medical settings. By respecting pronouns and identities, society moves toward a more inclusive and understanding future.