I'm the secretary of my college's GSA, and I will be taking on a project that will require some public feedback to do correctly.
I'm going to do a presentation on how to be a good ally.
Although many people have good intentions when showing support to the LGBT+ community, many allies still end up saying offensive things or being backhanded or callous in the way they support others.
I'd like some feedback on what I should include in this presentation. Comments on the post would be appreciated!
I think it's important for allies to use their privilege to help get queer voices heard. Like set up an event or gain access to an event where a queer person may not be safe and protect them and let them be heard. For allies I think that they're job is more a support system but too many people make the mistake of speaking on behalf of the queer community and just get stuff wrong and contribute to queer voices being silenced
ReplyDeleteI'd love to see your presentation. I try to keep in mind that I still have a lot to learn in order to be a good ally. Thinking about my college experience (30 years ago at a woman's college), acknowledging that women may be lesbians was a big thing. (We had a "Lesbian Alliance," but bi/trans/queer women weren't acknowledged). I think that many straight, suburban folks my age may really have their hearts in the right place but not have the language or knowledge to be truly supportive to the LGBT+ community. I do try to watch my language for being too hetero-normative . . . e.g., using "spouse" instead of "husband/wife." I also recognize that it was very easy - and expected - for Bill and I to marry 25 years ago . . . I recognize the straight privilege that allowed us to do that.
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