Office of Equity and Human Rights:

Language is fluid. Some individuals within groups disagree about terminology, which can discourage some from participating in discussions about identity because they don’t want to “get it wrong” or offend someone. If we avoid difficult conversations, we are not helping to build an inclusive environment.

As our understanding of race, gender, socioeconomic status, and disability evolves, we must make informed choices about language and adopt a continuous improvement approach— striking a balance between following the lead of the individuals most affected, while using resources developed by experts to avoid overburdening those most affected.

Culturally conscious writers stay up to date on inclusive and equitable language, observing and learning how people and groups self- identify. This guide is a City- wide collaboration and will be updated as terms and language evolve, and the Office of Equity welcomes ongoing input and feedback from all City staff.