Being an ally is about being an active friend or support to someone else. Cisgender* people can be allies to LGBT+ people. LGBT+ people can be allies to each other. If we want to live in a world where people are accepted without exception, we all need to be part of the solution – take a look at ILGA-Europe’s Rainbow Map to see just how differently the LGBT+ community is treated across the globe.
Ways to be an ally
There are lots of opportunities to change the hearts and minds of people around us.
Educate and empower yourself
Doing some research, reading up online and learning a little more about the LGBT+ community is a great place to start. Even if you’re part of the community, find out about people whose orientation or gender identity differs to your own. Be curious and confront your own assumptions, prejudices, and biases. Google, YouTube and the LGBT+ media are your friends! Getting the language right can sometimes feel intimidating, so why not start with Stonewall’s glossary of terms?
Listen & Learn
As allies we are guardians of one another; we have to be able to listen, ask how someone is doing and be aware that other people’s lives and experiences will be completely different to our own, especially in terms of discrimination and prejudice. Remember that just because someone has come out to you, they might not be out to everyone. Respect and Protect each other and enjoy learning about all the differences and diversity in the communities around us.
Be visible and challenge
Be loud, visible and proud. We want as many positive messages out there as possible. When you hear people making negative comments or using hurtful or abusive language towards LGBT+ people, speak up and challenge it, if safe to do so. If it’s online, report it. You might not always have all the answers or know exactly what to say and that’s OK.
Talk about pronouns
Our identity is who we are, so how others address us has a really big impact on whether we feel like we belong. It’s not always obvious how someone likes to be addressed through pronouns. That may be because, for example, a person’s gender doesn’t sit comfortably with the sex they were assigned at birth, their gender identity is not binary or because someone has a gender neutral name. We can learn what pronouns someone uses just by politely asking them “Hey, what pronouns do you use?”. However, we can make it even easier by all playing our part – that’s why both Spectrum and Carnival UK are encouraging you to share your pronouns, and recognise the pronouns of your colleagues. Find out more here
Being an ally goes beyond just LGBT+
It’s important to remember that people have lots of different elements to their identities – someone might be bi and also a person of colour (PoC), or trans and Catholic, gay and disabled, non-binary and dealing with a mental health issue. This may mean they suffer multiple levels of discrimination in their life. Being an ally is about listening to and learning from someone else’s experiences and showing your support for them.
At Carnival UK we’re committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone can bring their whole selves to work and everyone is welcome, no matter how they identify. Spectrum, Carnival UK’s LGBT+ & Friends employee-led network, celebrate the diversity of colleagues and champion the LGBT+ community. Find out more about Spectrum here.