Being an Ally: World Book Day 2023

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These glossaries can help make conversations easier and help all of us acquire the language to be as respectful and accurate as possible with our language. To recap: Being an ally doesn’t necessarily mean you fully understand what it feels like to be oppressed. It means you’re taking on the struggle as your own. Many would-be allies fear making mistakes that could have them labeled as “-ist” or “-ic” (racist, sexist, transphobic, homophobic, etc). But as an ally, you’re also affected by a system of oppression. This means that as an ally, there is much to unlearn and learn—mistakes are expected. You need to own this as fact and should be willing to embrace the daily work of doing better. Always speak up if you witness behavior or speech that is degrading or offensive. Explain your stance so everyone is clear about why you’re raising the issue. One of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves is learning how to create closure within rather than expecting other people to give it to us.

You could begin with doing something as easy as reading a glossary of terms and teaching yourself the right language to use when talking with LGBT+ people. It’s a tiny but crucial step you can take to educate yourself and make sure you are using the terminology to be respectful to everyone around you, and help yourself to feel more confident when discussing LGBT+ issues. 2. Educate yourself on the history of LGBT activism Although Pride might seem like a month of parades and glitter these days, its origins are far from celebratory. The first Pride rally occurred a month after the Stonewall riots in 1969.By doing this, Digby helped me build credibility with my new colleagues. He took action as an ally, using his position of privilege to sponsor me. His shoutouts made a difference, and definitely made me feel great. LGBTQIA is an acronym that collectively refers to individuals who identify as in any of the following ways:

Bad apologies are performances meant to protect pride and ego. They exist to make the apologizer feel and look good, while defending their intent. Do not participate for the gold medal in the “Oppression Olympics” (you don’t need to compare how your struggle is “just as bad as” a marginalized person’s)The apology receiver may choose to never interact with you again. Either after you give an apology or before you give it. You have to find a way to make peace with that. Do not pressure or shame someone into accepting your apology. Why Didn't Anyone Else Say Anything?" by Naomi and Natalie Evans- I really liked this essay and the discussion that was had about why do people never say anything when they witness racist behavior. Allies is a collection of essays and experiences of people from different groups in society who are often considered as “Others” aka, everyone who isn’t a straight, white, cis person. Allies" is an anthology of 16 different essays discussing what exactly an ally is. It was incredibly heartfelt and emotional, and each essay felt personal. The line-up in and of itself was extremely diverse, covering race, sexuality, gender, religion, and disability.

Denial that the problem is fixable: “Toes getting stepped on is a fact of life. You’ll be better off when you accept that.” Try starting with “Thanks for letting me know” to put yourself in a better frame of mind. If after you say that, you need to take some time to think about the situation, that’s fine, too. Just remember that this isn’t about changing the other person’s frame of mind. They’re allowed to be upset about being oppressed. Allies: Real Talk About Showing Up, Screwing Up, And Trying Again” by Shakirah Bourne and Dana Alison Levy is a welcome addition to the expanding space surrounding how to be an ally. Through the lens of 16 the different pieces numerous issues were explored. Things such as race, gender identity, disability. Each piece was told in an authentic way that posed important questions for readers to reflect upon. While it may be presented as a book for Young Adults, I think that it serves as a great introduction for teens (high school) and adults of all ages on what allyship is all about.The HRC Corporate Equality Index: Designed to help you learn more about where your company stands when it comes to equality. Read on for our suggestions on how to be an LGBTQ+ ally and support our LGBTQ+ students and colleagues. A good way to find out more is to engage with LGBTQ+ charities (some suggestions are listed below). If you follow their updates and activities, you can easily find out about opportunities to volunteer or take action, for example by writing to your MP about a certain issue.