Instead, create a comfortable environment around yourself where people who want to share will know that they can. LGBTIQ people may not be ready, willing, or able to share. Do not rely on the LGBTIQ people in your life to explain everything about the LGBTIQ community to you, they may not want to and they may not be able to!Īsk questions, but do not push for answers. If you are a new ally, use this opportunity to seek information about LGBTIQ communities, about the human rights violations LGBTIQ people face, about the situations in different countries, and about how you can get involved in various initiatives as an ally. There are plenty of social media accounts that post about terminology definitions, flags, LGBTIQ figures from history, and more. Pride is a time when information about the LGBTIQ community is readily available. Be an active bystander wherever you are and speak up when you see injustice! Every space could be made more inclusive and safe for the LGBTIQ community, and you could be the one to ensure that safety. If you are a healthcare worker, or service provider, or any other profession. If you are a trainer, bring it into the gym. If you are a cook, bring it into the kitchen.
![ally gay definition ally gay definition](http://www.deltaconceptsinc.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Ally-image.jpg)
If you are a teacher, bring it into the classroom and ensure a safe environment for LGBTIQ youth. Moreover, while the level of discrimination and exclusion varies by location, there is no country where LGBTIQ people are entirely safe.Īllies are needed everywhere. LGBTIQ people face discrimination, harassment, and violence all year long. To be a true ally you have to be an ally every day, not just in the month of June. It is essential to foster a community where all aspects of people’s identities are uplifted, not one where they feel like they can only embrace one aspect of their identity at any one time.Īs Audre Lorde wrote, “ there is no such thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives." Our communities consist of athletes, and creative souls, animal lovers, and avid readers. Our community is composed of people of all races, ethnicities, religions, abilities, socioeconomic statuses, citizenship statuses, and everything in between. We are never just L, G, B, T, I, or Q, our sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression do not define our entire being.
![ally gay definition ally gay definition](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/af/8a/ef/af8aef32e14f3507445dc4a61b4917ee--lgbt-support-lgbt-love.jpg)
It is impossible to be a true ally to the LGBTIQ community without understanding the intersectionality of LGBTIQ identities. Our allies serve as a much-needed reminder that the LGBTIQ community is not in this fight alone.īut, what does it really mean to be an ally for the community? How can allies mark Pride with a Purpose? We are never just one thing. Allies are crucial to the fight for recognition of the human rights of LGBTIQ people. During Pride month, many people feel inspired to learn more about what it really takes to be an ally to the LGBTIQ community.