Happy Pride Month!! :)
- bestfeelingevermov
- Jun 29, 2020
- 4 min read
Heyy everyone!! :)
Sorry again that this post is a bit late! Hope you're all having a great week. I know we're all still facing a whole bunch of different challenges both individually and collectively, and that this is still an extremely stressful time for so many of us. I hope that you are all doing well and that you are taking good care of yourselves and those around you! Please keep the hope strong and never give up, I know that together we will still be able to make it through this!!
This week, I would like to wish everyone in the LGBTQIA+ community a very HAPPY PRIDE MONTH!!!! June is the month to celebrate this community and to send all of our love their way. Of course, every month we must do what we can to support them and to educate ourselves on their experiences, but we should pay some extra special attention in June of course! I will always and forever stand as an ally to the LGBTQIA+ community, and I am dedicated to continuously educating myself and others on their history and experiences so that I can learn how to best support them and be there for them. In this post, let's explore some ways we can all do that!
Over the past few weeks, I have been writing a lot about how we can stand as allies to the Black community and support them, and have provided a number of resources in my previous posts for places that you can go online to donate to organizations that help the Black community as well as educate yourself. Many of the main tips I offered about the general act of being an ally (or "ally-ing", to use the verb form instead of the noun, as I discussed), can also be applied to the LGBTQIA+ community as well. In this post, I would also like to offer additional tips and resources for ally-ing for the LGBTQIA+ community. Please contact me if you would like me to add any others to this list!! :)
Similar to what I stated in my posts about being an ally to the White community, I would like to preface this by saying that I identify as a heterosexual, cisgender male, so all of this is coming from my point of view through that identification. I cannot claim to understand what it is like to be part of the LGBTQIA+ community, and my views in no way intend to speak for this community or reflect their experiences.
General Tips For Ally-Ing For The LGBTQIA+ Community
Understand that gender, sexual orientation, and displayed gender characteristics all exist on a spectrum, and everyone falls somewhere on that spectrum in those dimensions plus others. Educate yourself as to what each spectrum entails.
Never assume that someone identifies as something in particular, even if they appear to be expressing a clear identification. Ask people their pronouns and what they identify as when appropriate.
Understand that you will make mistakes, and that is okay. If you mistakenly label someone as something that they don't identify as, such as by using an incorrect pronoun, and then come to realize it, simply apologize to the person and move on. Don't make too much of a big deal out of it, but do show that you care and that you understand how they would like to be addressed.
Offer "safe spaces" to those you know who identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community, and make sure they know that they can come to you if they ever need anything.
Always believe a person when they tell you what they identify as, even if they don't appear to identify that way. It is their choice, and theirs alone!
Stand up for members of the LGBTQIA+ community whenever you see any of them in trouble or being harassed. Strive to act as role model for other allies!
Support LGBTQIA+ businesses, and buy from them where you can!
As always, strive to keep learning, growing, educating yourself, and raising your own awareness and that of those around you! Remember the power that YOU have to act as a role model to everyone around you!!
Now for some links to resources! This link, and this website as a whole, offers some great information and resources for the LGBTQIA+ community as well as for allies. Please check it out, and send it along!! :)
This site offers 17 great organizations that you can donate to to support Black-led LGBTQIA+ organizations. Please check them out and read about them, and consider donating if you are able to!
Here is a link to a list of 30 great movies you can watch to celebrate Pride Month! These will offer you some insight into the experiences of the LGBTQIA+ community and their experiences. They're great to share and discuss! Enjoy!
Here is a great list of books that you can read that shed some light on the LGBTQIA+ experience! Check them out!
As always, please let me know if there are any more resources you know of that you would like to see included here! This list is just meant to act as a very beginning starting point to spark some ideas and get you thinking about how you can act as an ally and educate yourself more. Of course there are always so many things you can do, so get creative and get out there, during Pride Month and every month! Always remember the great power you hold, and that you can use that power to help the lives of those around you immensely! Together, we can do this!!
What are you doing to celebrate Pride Month?! How are you showing love to the LGBTQIA+ community, and stepping up as an effective ally? What ideas do you have that you would like to share? Please let me know! I would love to share them here. Please keep staying safe and healthy, take good care of yourselves and those around you! I am sending infinite love to all of you out there. Please keep being kind and compassionate to yourselves and to others!! Stay strong, remember that we will make it through this, I believe so much in the strength and the power we all have inside of us, we can make it through anything!!!! I love you all LOTS, sending lots of hugs to all of you out there!!!! Once again, HAPPY PRIDE MONTH!!!! :) <3
Your friend forever,
Adam Silverstein :) <3
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