How to Be a Better Ally
To all our LGBTQ+ and Ally subscribers,
Happy Pride Month!
Now more than ever, we are reminded of the necessity of such a month. It’s not just a celebration of queerness but a reminder of all the work it has taken to give the community a great deal of inalienable freedoms and the work that continues to lie ahead. Legislation continues to be introduced nationwide against the community–491 legislative pieces, to be exact–many on the outside must be reminded of every individual’s innate value and dignity, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity. With the miraculous circumstances that have granted us all the ability to exist, no one should have any right to prevent you from living a life of quality and dignity. Yet, here we unjustly are.
We are living in a phenomenal period in our nation’s history. As divisive as the politics of the United States has become, never has there been such amplification of the voices of underserved and marginalized communities. Discussion of the rights of communities of color, women, and LGBTQ+ people percolate millions daily through news, social media, and casual conversation. Unless one works to bury their heads in the sand, we cannot help but hear every day of the battles at least one of these communities is facing. However, much discussion that does happen is far from constructive. Many aggressive voices hijack the platform to suppress marginalized and underserved communities. That is why speaking up and standing up against injustices these communities face is all the more critical. With all the tools at our disposal, we can amplify the voices of our respective communities or allyship.
Allies are essential in this fight, but the key to being a good ally is understanding how the LGBTQ+ needs you to show support. A four-year project conducted by the Harvard Business Review worked to find out how LGBTQ+ individuals defined allyship. They found being a good ally has three components: being accepting (e.g., “They make people feel safe and supported”), taking action (e.g., “They advocate for the group, raise awareness, and defend the group”), and having humility (e.g., “They are a good listener; they are open to correction; they are willing to learn”).
The late gay liberation activist and self-identified drag queen Marsha P. Johnson said, “History isn’t something you look back at and say it was inevitable, it happens because people make decisions that are sometimes very impulsive and of the moment, but those moments are cumulative realities.” It takes all of us together to truly make the world a better place. No person is free until ALL ARE FREE. That is why being an ally is essential work. Help write a better history for tomorrow’s world.
Be an ally.
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