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Pride month is here! Allies, support LGBT actively. Participate, spread awareness, become activists. Guide for ally support and care.
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Pride month is here! Allies, support LGBT actively. Participate, spread awareness, become activists. Guide for ally support and care.
The world is becoming increasingly more supportive of diverse identities. June is Pride Month and it's being celebrated all across the world. During this time, you might be wondering what you can do to show the LGBT community that you're an ally. People generally have very different journeys on their path to understand what they can do to support the LGBT community. .
By being an LGBT ally, you show the community that you are a person in front of whom they can find understanding as well as comfort. You may already know LGBT people in your life, and could be wondering what you can do to show them that you care. A simple way to do this is by openly declaring that you're an ally and picking up the rainbow flag to show your support. But is there more that you can do for the LGBT community?
For the LGBT community, workplace discrimination continues to be an issue. The Human Rights Campaign Foundation conducted a survey in 2018 on LGBT workers. They found that nearly 46% of respondents said that they were closeted at work. Around 20% of employees revealed that they wanted to look for a different place to work - one that was more LGBT friendly.
But this discrimination isn't limited to the workplace. Members of the LGBT community can feel discriminated against in all walks of life. Their family might not be supportive of them, they might face bullying and harassment, and they might not have access to equal opportunities. As an ally, you can change these realities by yourself, nor does the LGBT community expect you to. What they do expect is that their issues are acknowledged and they are made to feel equal at work, at home, and in all other places.
Pride month activism helps the LGBT community raise awareness of their issues, their needs, and their experiences. It also allows them to showcase with pride their sexual and gender identities and create a safe place where they feel validated.
LGBT rights are still being worked on, addressed and deliberated on across various countries. In the UK, LGBT rights take the forefront during Pride Month. A country that's already largely accepting of the LGBT community, there is still room for improvement. This improvement can be achieved with the help of allies.
As an LGBT ally, you can help the community bring their needs to light. You'll try to actively keep yourself informed on LGBT issues and events. You could choose to participate in Pride Walks in the UK. You could also participate in events that promote Pride, which are common during Pride Month. Note that it's the LGBT allies that act as powerful voices that support the community through difficult times.
It means to advocate together and to aim to implement positive changed together. But what can you do to show your support?
Pride Month is celebrated in June every hear to commemorate the Stonewall Uprising of 1969. That was when the LGBT community of New York took a stand against police brutality and demanded that they receive fair treatment. To this day, Pride Month is a time when LGBT people across the world and their allies come together to celebrate pride and advocate for LGBT rights.
To play your part and advocate for the LGBT community during Pride Month, the first thing that you should do is identify yourself as an ally. Wearing a pride-themed T-shirt or adding an equality or rainbow badge to your bag are small ways to identify as an ally. You could also post on social media, tell your friends and family and let the people in your life know that you're an ally.
You can also try to learn about LGBT history, or donate to an NGO that supports the LGBT community. A great way to show your support is by showing up to a Pride event. You could go to a fundraiser, to a private event, a festival, or even a drag show. The idea is to let your community know that you're an active ally. You can also invite LGBT speakers to your events or at your workplace to give illuminating talks about the community.
Although Pride Month lasts for just thirty days, that doesn't mean that you should stop being an ally once the month is over. The LGBT community needs support through the year. Many members of the LGBT community experience discrimination in life. They could be harassed, not receive equal opportunities at work, and find themselves feeling invalidated.
When members of the LGBT community know that you're an ally, they are more likely to know that you're a safe person to talk to. They can discuss their problems with you, without worrying that you'll reject or harass them. Allies are the powerful voices that the LGBT community needs, and vitally important to getting them the attention they need. If you're wondering how to support during Pride Month, then the simplest way is by being present. When more and more people turn up to support the LGBT community, the general community and people in power are more likely to pay attention to them.
When you think of yourself as an ally, don't think it's just a label you can tag on for one month each year. An ally is someone who actively supports the LGBT community. Think of being as ally as being an activist. As an ally, you will find yourself protecting LGBT people against those discriminating against them. It's your job to raise your voice and defend them when you can.
Take the time to understand LGBT history and read about the impact that allies have had on the LGBT community. Here are some simple steps that you can take every day, to show that you're an ally:
You may have a lot of questions on how you can be a better ally and whether you can help induce positive changes in the lives of the LGBT community. Here are some common questions that you might have.
To be a better ally, you'll need to be actively present at Pride events. This is also a great time for LGBT rights advocacy, and bringing to light the issues being faced by the LGBT community. At work or at school, you could ask the authorities to introduce LGBT Pride events that enable others to be an ally as well.
Pride Month activism is great, but don't forget that as an activist, you're needed through the rest of the year as well. However, Pride Month is the time when LGBT communities across the world openly celebrate their identity and advocate for their rights.
There are several charities and NGOs that help the LGBT community, that you can support during Pride Month. An example of this is the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. HRC is known for helping LGBT individuals across the world against inequality, intolerance and stigma.
The Trevor Project, that was founded in 1998 is another organization that you can support. They provide crisis intervention to the LGBT community and aim to help LGBT people who face bullying or discrimination in their lives. SAGE is another NGO worth considering. They provide care for elderly members of the LGBT community.
Being an ally who is there to support the LGBT community through the year is one of the best ways to show that you care. At your workplace, talk to your superiors about workplace inclusivity and the importance of helping LGBT people feel valid. Talk to the people in your life about LGBT issues and what they can do to help. By encouraging others to be allies as well, you help the LGBT community get the help and support that they need.
LGBT allyship shouldn't be restricted to one month a year. Instead, look for and create opportunities to uplift the lives of the LGBT community. You can do this through volunteering, donations, sensitizing your friends and colleagues, and building awareness of LGBT issues.
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