How To Be An Ally To The LGBT

How To Be An Ally To The LGBT

Pride Month offers numerous events where members of the LGBT community can celebrate who they are.

But June also is a good time for straight people to show support for their LGBT friends, relatives and co-workers.

It’s Pride Month, and here are 8 suggestions on how to be an ally.

1. Make a small gesture or two

Little things, such as accompanying a loved one to their first Pride parade or hanging up a rainbow flag, carry more weight than you may realize. Actions speak louder than words.

2. Use appropriate pronouns

But words still matter. Coming out as LGBT can be a long, hard journey. You can show respect and sensitivity to your friends by asking how they identify and then using those identifiers.

3. If someone comes out to you, it’s not your place to share their story

Those on the LGBT spectrum may well have been persecuted by strangers, governments and even loved ones. It took courage for them to come out. Don’t assume because they confided in you that they want you to share it with other people. It’s their story to tell.

4. Listen

Try to be understanding, even if it’s sometimes hard to relate. Members of the LGBT community face struggles that straight people may not have experienced. Show some empathy.

5. Speak up against prejudice

If you hear someone make an anti-gay joke or a crude comment, let them know you don’t appreciate it. Don’t support businesses with discriminatory policies or politicians who voice intolerance.

6. Don’t make Pride all about you

Don’t sneak pictures of LGBT people like they’re exotic creatures. Don’t try to guess aloud how someone identifies or babble on about what a great ally you are (let your actions speak for themselves). Observe, listen and take part – but know that as an outsider, you have certain boundaries.

7. And please, PLEASE do not ask why there’s no Straight Pride month

This should be self-explanatory. As your mom probably told you, if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it.

8. Finally, Learn about the range of sexualities on the LGBT spectrum

Sexual identity in 2018 can be complicated and fluid, and new terms are entering the vocabulary. It’s normal to be confused. Here’s a closer look at some terms to help you understand them better.

Know Your Identity Terms
New terms are entering the cultural lexicon as people endeavour to codify their sexual orientation or gender. These definitions, which have been edited, are primarily from the LGBTQ advocacy group, The Trevor Project.

Previous IBK's JOURNAL (Entry 26)
Next #NaijaLGBTPride: LGBT Nigerians flock Twitter to Celebrate Pride Month

About author

You might also like

Editor's Desk 4 Comments

THE TERROR OF A GAY MAN

When we left the guesthouse for our night of karaoke fun that evening, we were all in high spirits. We were dressed to kill, all hoochie shorts, cropped tops and

Our Stories 7 Comments

Stop asking me if I’m a Top or Bottom. Not every gay guy likes anal

Bradley Birkholz feels liberated as a side and wants you to banish the ‘butthole binary’ with him. In today’s world, it still feels like there are binaries everywhere. And in

Our Stories 13 Comments

THE STALKER

In February, the news broke that someone, presumably gay, had been murdered in his home by someone he let in, someone who was purportedly a hookup. The news was all

1 Comment

  1. Victoria
    June 25, 05:14 Reply

    Thank you for educating in such a well put manner

Leave a Reply