Months ago, my supervisor of the time asked me what gender pronouns I preferred. I panicked, but tried to act cool, as if I didn't know why she would think I might prefer anything other than "she".
Today a different supervisor (not mine) asked the same question. Of course, she prefaced it with a lot of "I don't mean to offend you" words, which pretty much told me what was coming. I'm actually kind of intrigued that I'm working somewhere where people would think to ask such a question. Both times I've been asked, it has been indicated that there has been some discussion of this topic prior to the question coming to me.
This time, stupid as it may have been, I answered more or less honestly. I told her that I don't really mind whatever pronouns people use toward me. I said that most people at work call me she, and most people at church call me he, and that both are okay to me. (On a side note, I've noticed that one of my coworkers has recently taken to calling me he, and a few more people at church are calling me she. Interesting.) I did not mention that I use gender neutral pronouns to refer to myself. I did not explain androgyny and rejection of the gender binary system.
The supervisor seemed a little surprised, but accepted my answer. She made sure to instruct me to tell her if this changes.
I'm not sure how to feel about this. Glad that I'm not being immediately fired? Proud that I answered truthfully? Embarrassed because my secret is out? Apprehensive about possible fallout? I can't even figure out if I regret what I said.
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