Non-binary CEO ‘attacked’ with hostile email over ‘they/them’ signature

A non-binary media professional was shocked to receive a hostile rejection email because of the ‘they/them’ email signature used in the message. 

Marz Marcello, CEO and co-founder of Certified Crucial, a podcast monetization company, has been openly identified as non-binary since 2010. 

Marcello was working with a PR agency pitching potential podcast guests to media outlets when they received the hostile message. 

The email, which Marcello shared on LinkedIn, read: “Because you have they/them in your email signature, I will not be engaging any further.”

The terse reply ended with an all-caps declaration: “YOU ARE EITHER A MAN OR A WOMAN.”

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Marcello, of Warwick, Rhode Island, feels “attacked” by the reply, which is “antagonizing” and “hostile.”

They said: “I woke up and that was the first thing in my inbox, just a message that completely disregarded not only my guest that I was presenting, but my humanity as an individual, period.

“I was disheartened at first. I was just kind of bummed. Bummed is probably putting it lightly.”

LinkedIn users were quick to flood the comments section.

“This is a perfect example of why identity-related discrimination/bias absolutely impacts one’s work experience,” one LinkedIn user wrote.

Another added: “Sigh. I wish I had more to offer, except they don’t deserve the privilege of working with you.”

A third user wrote, “wtf… THAT REPLY… “because you use they/them” ARE YOU SERIOUS…?!?!?!?!?”

With over 15 years of experience in the podcast industry, Marcello has built a respected career spanning production, marketing, and merchandise. 

They’ve hosted webinars on effective pitching and trained teams on podcast outreach techniques. 

Despite their professional accomplishments, this incident highlighted how discrimination can infiltrate even carefully cultivated professional spaces.

“In the lane that I have crafted, I am a professional, I am respected, and I have created a name for myself in my industry,” Marcello said. 

“For that to also be almost discredited through this encounter and this engagement, it’s very harmful and very hurtful.”

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Marcello has identified as non-binary for approximately 15 years, though they note that the terminology has evolved significantly since they first came out. 

“I have been outwardly queer since high school — around sophomore year,” they explained. “I would say I started to identify as gender queer around 2010.”

Their journey toward affirming their identity has included significant obstacles. 

Two years ago, Marcello underwent top surgery, but not before facing legal hurdles where new laws temporarily prevented them from accessing this care despite being 31 years old at the time.

“The Supreme Court stepped in and overruled the laws in Florida, which then allowed me to go ahead and get my top surgery,” Marcello explained. 

The process required clearances from multiple healthcare providers, including therapists and physicians, to ensure they were “sound in body and sound in mind.”

Beyond professional discrimination, Marcello faces challenges in everyday settings that many cisgender people take for granted. 

Public restrooms, for instance, present particular difficulties.

“My experiences in the bathroom were incredibly uncomfortable then, but prior to top surgery, it is almost unbearable,” they shared. 

“I get looks, I get comments.

“It has become much more of a challenge to navigate just using a bathroom and having a natural bodily urge like everyone else, but not really having a safe space to be able to tackle that.”

Despite these ongoing challenges, Marcello continues their professional work while being open about their experiences. 

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By sharing the rejection email publicly, they’ve sparked important conversations about discrimination in professional settings.

“It is exhausting to try and validate your existence as an individual, as a human being,” Marcello said. 

“I’d like to say that I was surprised, but that would be a false statement. I wasn’t surprised, but it’s still hurtful nonetheless.”