By Troy Sullivan (Shanti OC)
Pride month is a time of both jubilance and remembrance as we celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community. Every June, celebrants attend parades, marches, and other festivities to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall Uprising and subsequent queer liberation movement. As we head into the 55th anniversary of Stonewall, we celebrate 55 years of visibility, progress, and positive change for our community. Despite this progress, the last several years have seen a dramatic rise in anti-LGBTQIA+ rhetoric and legislation, violence against the queer community, and mental health challenges. With the looming threat of another turbulent year ahead, your allyship is a crucial element in our continued fight to create safe and affirming communities.
Here are some ways that you can enact effective allyship this Pride:
Think of allyship as a verb, not a noun
Sometimes we think of being an ally as a component of our identity (I am an ally) to reflect an internal state of acceptance towards another group. While this acceptance is cherished and appreciated, it might be helpful to think about allyship as a verb – it’s about what we do. It is not exclusively our feelings that demonstrate allyship, but the actions we take in the service of liberation and progress.
Allyship on an individual level
Allyship starts with individual work. Take time to learn about LGBTQIA+ history and the issues facing the community today. Immerse yourself in the stories of queer individuals – read books, listen to podcasts, or follow queer content creators on social media. Identify and address harmful stereotypes or biases that you hold or perpetuate against queer individuals. Allyship is most effective when it flows from a place of authenticity and conviction.
Allyship in your immediate context
Once you’ve done the individual work, enact contextual allyship in the way you speak, present yourself, and create space for queer individuals around you. While not an exhaustive list, this could look like…
- Minding the language you use and asking for someone’s pronouns before assuming. Listen for how someone describes themselves or someone they love, then mirror that language.
- Use visual representations of allyship like having a pride flag in your office, place of business, or on something that is easily seen.
- Add pronouns to your social media bio or email signature
- Call out homophobic/transphobic jokes or statements and explain why they are harmful or offensive.
- Use inclusive language and avoid assumptions (using “partner” or “spouse” instead of husband/wife).
Allyship in a macro-context
Help bring about meaningful change in your community and the larger systems around you. Support politicians who have a history of support for the LGBTQIA+ community. Avoid businesses that discriminate or cause harm to queer individuals. Get involved with, donate to, or increase visibility in your context for organizations who are actively working towards addressing large-scale issues facing the queer community.
Allyship doesn’t stop at the end of June
It’s important to remember that while Pride month concludes at the end of June, the need for allyship and community support does not. Being an ally means continuing to support the LGBTQIA+ community throughout the year in the ways mentioned above.
If you are a member of the LGBTQIA+ community and are struggling with your mental health please consider reaching out to a mental health professional or support service. Shanti OC is a local organization that specializes in affirming mental health care as well as HIV/AIDS care and case management. Additionally, the Trevor Project offers a 24/7 suicide prevention hotline for queer youth, and the 988 Lifeline offers general emergency suicide prevention and crisis support.
Written in partnership with Ascend Media.
