In 2019, Sam Smith announced they were embracing they/them pronouns, a milestone in their long journey toward gender self-acceptance. Despite this, the 33-year-old Grammy winner is still frequently misgendered in public and media appearances. Smith publicly shared their pronoun change on X, writing that after “a lifetime of being at war” with their gender, they were ready to live authentically. They acknowledged that mistakes would happen but asked people to “please please try.”

Still, misgendering continues. At the Grammy Awards, an Associated Press reporter repeatedly used male pronouns while discussing the singer’s fashion choices. The remarks drew criticism online for ignoring Smith’s identity. Shortly after, musician Bob Geldof sparked backlash during an appearance on ITV’s This Morning when he repeatedly referred to Smith as “he.” Former hosts Holly Willoughby and Philip Schofield did not correct him, frustrating viewers who felt the slip should have been addressed.....