Celebrating Pride with Access Global Group

Jenna Trott

5 min read | June 01, 2023

Listen and Learn

There’s strength in knowledge and while it may be tempting to inquire with members of the LGBTQIA+ community regarding their experiences with inequality and injustice, it can also unfairly place a burden of emotional and cognitive labor on their shoulders. This isn’t to say you shouldn’t talk about it! However, when inquiring about obstacles they’ve encountered, start by seeking permission and approach the conversation from a place of humility and a mindset focused on learning. True allyship is rooted in listening, but also in taking initiative. Do your research to develop a deeper understanding regarding Queer history and to be mindful of the prevailing gaps in equality that still exist today. Some helpful resources include:

Language and Phrases

Language has the ability to shape our understanding, perceptions, and interactions with the world. It can empower, validate, and uplift, but it can also marginalize, erase, and oppress. For the LGBTQIA+ community, language carries immense significance in expressing identities, experiences, and struggles that have historically been silenced or dismissed. By taking the time to educate ourselves about Queer community language and terms, we demonstrate respect, empathy, and a willingness to listen and learn. It allows us to create safer spaces and engage in meaningful conversations, while avoiding misgendering, microaggressions, or unintentional harm. Embracing and using inclusive language can be a powerful tool in dismantling oppressive structures and ensuring that everyone’s experiences and identities are acknowledged, valued, and celebrated. Check out these great resources:

Accept Feedback

As allies, our intentions may be genuine, but we must recognize that our actions and words can have unintended consequences. When someone from the LGBTQIA+ community offers feedback, it is an opportunity for us to reflect on our behavior and understand how it may impact others. Accepting feedback requires humility, open-mindedness, and a willingness to examine our own biases and privileges. It is not about taking it personally or becoming defensive, but rather about actively listening, validating experiences, and committing to do better.

See Something? Say Something

Speaking up for LGBTQIA+ coworkers, friends, and family members is a crucial aspect of being an ally, albeit one that can be challenging and demanding. As allies, it is our responsibility to actively monitor our workplaces, social circles, and family environments for oppressive behavior and discrimination. Rather than waiting for marginalized individuals to react, we must proactively step in and address these situations. When we witness discrimination, it is important not to offer sympathy later in private but to provide immediate support in the moment. By being clear, decisive, and assertive in shutting down oppressive behavior, we send a powerful message that bigotry and discrimination have no place in our lives.

Support

Supporting the LGBTQIA+ community goes beyond words and gestures—it also involves taking tangible actions to uplift and empower marginalized individuals. One impactful way to contribute is by making donations to organizations that champion LGBTQIA+ rights and provide vital services to the community. Whether it’s donating to LGBTQIA+ youth centers, transgender support networks, mental health services, or legal defense funds, every contribution, no matter how small, can make a meaningful difference.