Wednesday was International Pronouns Day, a day meant to make respecting, sharing and educating people about personal pronouns commonplace.

For the past two years, Islip's Kristi Evans says her child Elle, who was born a female, has been using 'he/him' pronouns.

"Elle has always been masculine. The first few years we thought he was very Tomboy-ish, but you know we realized it was probably more than that," says Evans.

"You don't know what everybody's gender is just by looking at them -- when someone is referred to with the wrong pronoun it can make them feel disrespected, invalidated, dismissed or all of the above," says LGBT Network President and CEO David Kilmnick.

Evans says Elle's siblings make sure people always use his pronouns properly.

"Acknowledging a person for who they are, validating who they are, just respecting them and seeing them for who they are is really important," says Evans.

Evans says it has been great to see her family rally around Elle. She says over time, it becomes easier to use the correct pronouns, and makes a world of difference.

"They'll be the first to say 'that's my brother,' call him 'he,'" says Evans. "Which is wonderful and I love that they're supporting each other."

Kilmnick says there is still a ways to go toward acceptance, but the day of awareness is important.

"There's a lot more work to be done but today is a day where the work is being done by creating awareness," says Kilmnick.