How to Be an Ally to the LGBTQ+ Community
If you’re interested in how to be an ally to the LGBTQ+ community, you’ve come to the right place! In this article, we´ll look at what an ally is and all the ways to become one.
What exactly is an ally?
An ally is someone who stands up for a person or group of people who are discriminated against in society. This can be someone from the LGBTQ+ community, a person of color, or anyone else who´s oppressed.
It’s important to note that an ally is not an identity. It is the lifelong doing of actions such as listening, supporting, and using one´s privilege to help.
According to The Anti-Oppression Network, to be an ally is “an active, consistent, and arduous (difficult) practice of unlearning and re-evaluating, in which a person in a position of privilege and power seeks to operate in solidarity with a marginalized group”.
Using your privilege to help
We live in a society that favors a select group of people while discriminating against the rest. Your privileges are certain attributes about you that make you immune from certain discriminations. Some examples of this include being white, male, cisgender, or heterosexual.
Now, to have privilege doesn’t mean your life is easy, or nothing bad will ever happen to you. It just means there are some things that you never have to think about.
By acknowledging you have these privileges, you can use your position of power to help those who don’t have the same privileges. However, rather than doing so out of guilt, think of it more as a social responsibility.
7 ways to be an ally to the LGBTQ+ community
So, if you’re interested in helping the LGBTQ+ community, check out these 7 ways to be an ally below.
1. Listen
Acting as an ally is all about listening more and speaking less. Listen to your friends’ stories or any other LGBTQ+ person you’re talking with. Ask them respectful questions and try to understand how different the world is for them just because they are LGBTQ+.
2. Educate yourself
Take it upon yourself to research LGBTQ+; its history, and who exactly it represents. Look into the community’s terminology and how it’s always evolving. For example, read about why pronouns are so important. Finally, make it a priority to follow the news and read articles and blog posts written by LGBTQ+ people.
3. Check your own prejudices
We all have prejudices to some degree, passed down by society or maybe our own family. Part of being an ally is recognizing your prejudices and understanding how damaging they can be. Address any jokes you make or stereotypes you have and try to unlearn these preconceptions. Think about why you may have these prejudices and unconscious biases and try to deconstruct them.
4. Avoid assumptions
Don’t try to assume someone’s sexual orientation or gender based on how they look. For example, don´t assume everyone you meet is straight or assume someone’s pronouns. By not making assumptions, you allow your potential LGBTQ+ peers to feel comfortable and create a safe space for them.
5. Challenge discrimination
If you see something discriminatory, call it out. This could be a joke, comment, or anything else. Calmly challenge other people’s discrimination and aim to educate them on why it’s wrong and damaging. It might feel uncomfortable in the beginning, but breaking down these boundaries is how progression takes place.
6. Be visible in your support
Utilize social media to show your support for the LGBTQ+ community. You can share articles, blog posts, or events taking place. Likewise, you can be visible offline by talking openly about issues and calling out discrimination when you see it. The more you talk about LGBTQ+ rights, the more comfortable others will also feel talking about the subject.
7. Support LGBTQ+ charities
Get involved with LGBTQ+ charities to help organize events, raise awareness, and even donate to facilities such as healthcare providers and education. By taking a more hands-on role, you can actively get involved with the movement and see firsthand why the LGBTQ+ community needs allies.
Aim to do your best!
When acting as an ally, you won’t always get it right and that’s totally okay! As long as you learn from your mistakes and accept that you aren’t always right, you’re headed in the right direction. For more advice on everything LGBTQ+ related, check out our article library. Only at Beginning.com.