Being kind and stepping up

We have entered June, so you know what that means... It's Pride Month!

Being a good ally during Pride Month and in general means actively supporting, advocating for and celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community. It involves self-education and using inclusive language.

Here are some ways how you can be a good ally not just for this month, but all year round. 

1. Educate yourself

📚 Take the lead: Don't rely on LGBTQ+ friends or colleagues to explain queer history, terminology or current issues. Take time out of your evening to research and learn.

📚 Learn the history: Understand the roots of Pride Month by reading about the 1969 Stonewall Riots in the U.S and the broader fight for LGBTQ+ rights.

📚 Stay informed: Keep up with current challenges by reading reliable LGBTQ+ publications or following advocacy organisations like Save the Act - Human Rights.

2. Be Proactive in Conversation

❤️ Speak up: Challenge homophobic, biphobic, or transphobic comments - even "just a joke" when you hear them.

❤️ Listen more than you talk: Use your position to centre LGBTQ+ voices rather than speaking over them.

❤️ Normalise pronouns: Introduce yourself with your own pronouns on name tags, or in lectures. This creates a safe space for others to share theirs.

3. Support and Advocate

🌈 Donate and volunteer: Support LGBTQ+ charities, mutual aid funds, or community centres. Look into smaller, local organisations that rely heavily on grassroots funding (funded by a large number of individuals or locals).

🌈 Support queer-owned businesses: Intentionally spend your money at LGBTQ+ owned small businesses, restaurants, bars and creators - not just in June but throughout the year!

4. Embrace Authenticity

✨ Avoid making assumptions: Never assume someone's sexual orientation, gender identity, or pronouns based on their appearance. Respect the labels people use for themselves.

✨ Maintain confidentiality: Coming out is a deeply personal process. Do not "out" someone to others unless you know they are entirely comfortable with it.

✨ Accept your mistakes: You may slip up or use the wrong language. When this happens, apologise sincerely, correct yourself and move on. It happens, but it's important to remember that you can't become careless with it - these are people's identities. 

Allyship extends beyond the 30 days of June. Continue to research LGBTQ+ history, read queer literature, support LGBTQ+ charities and speak up for equality! 🏳️‍🌈