01 Jun 2022 | 3 mins
Overview
  • From being aware of your language to being visible in the community, here's how to be a deadset legend of an ally to the LGBTQIA+ community 🌈

'Ally' is a word used a lot in the LGBTQIA+ community. It refers to someone who is heterosexual and/or cisgender, but stands up for, supports, and encourages people who identify as LGBTQIA+ 🌈

But how can you be a bangin' ally? Dw, we've got you.

1. Get learnt up

Have a chinwag to people who identify as LGBTQIA+, read books and watch movies, listen to podcasts, and visit businesses or websites run by people from the community. Immersing yourself will allow you to live with so much more empathy. 🥰

2. Language is powerful

If you're referring to groups or people you're not familiar with, use gender-neutral language. Instead of she/he, use they, and use the term partner. Either wait for someone to mention their pronouns or if it feels right, ask politely 'what pronoun suits you best?'

3. To assume makes a fool

To avoid feeling, or making anyone else feel uncomfortable, try not to assume someone's gender, sex, or sexuality. Gender identity and sexuality are more than just gay or straight and can be a little complex. It's of course, okay to make mistakes but take responsibility graciously and don't take offense! Learn from them and move on. 🥰

4. Buuuut don't go too far

Be aware of normative bias. I mean, you don't ask your new straight, cis friend "when did you come out as straight?" Soooo be aware of questions you ask anyone in the LGBTQIA+ community being invasive.

5. Open up your ears

Be aware that someone that identifies as LGBTIQ+ may have experienced things you haven’t and could never really understand. But that's just being human! We'll never experience everything ourselves, but we can empathise with others, learn from them and help them.

6. Be visible in the community

This could include going to a rally or an event, supporting businesses and charities or sharing LGBTIQA+ articles or videos.

The not-so-fun part of this could be calling out discrimination. If you hear negative or uninformed comments about the LGBTIQA+ community, stand up and explain why it’s offensive.

7. Celebrate people for who they are, not just their sexuality

Sometimes people can be so conscious of being inclusive that they treat a person's gender or sexuality as their defining feature.

At the end of the day, someone's gender, body or sexuality is just one of the many parts that make us all human ⭐️