Blog

5 Simple, Yet Powerful Ways To Be A Better LGBTQ+ Ally By Just Using Your Phone

How to be a better LGBTQ+ Ally

All We Are asking Is For You To Lift A Finger... Or A Thumb

With Pride Month just around the corner, it's about time to intentionally ask yourself (if you haven't already) "How can I be a better ally?". If you've asked yourself this question before.. great, you're ahead of the game! However, the first significant step to being a better ally is to deepen the quality of the questions you're asking yourself. Something more like this:

"Have I been actively seeking out to listen to stories that don't just reflect my own reality?"

"Am I speaking up and making it obvious to others that I'm a LGBTQ+ ally?"

"Am I not living beyond the binary and making assumptions about others?"

So many of us want to open our minds, share, and learn in hopes to be healthier allies to work towards normalizing queerness. Below are 5 simple, yet powerful ways you can edit your daily interactions to be more inclusive to the LGBTQ+ community; best part is all these daily intentions can be done through your phone screen! So relax, put on your favorite facemask and let's dive into being healthier allies! 

 1. Don't Expect A LGBTQ+ Loved One To Educate You

 As good as your intentions might be, constantly asking or expecting your LGBTQ+ loved one to educate you throughout your allyship journey can be exhausting for them- and honestly no one person has the time to do this for EVERYONE in their life. It's your responsibility as an ally to seek out new knowledge and learn about different perspectives other than your own.

Thank God for content creators!! Fortunately, for all of us, queer people have dedicated lots of time and energy into creating informative and easy-to-listen podcasts to gain insight on the LGBTQ+ culture.

Here are 3 of my favorite queer podcasts to add to your weekly downloads to learn more about the community and even a bit about the history of queerness. (History isn't as straight as you think) 

  • "I Can Explain is an LGBTQ+ focused podcast that aims to answer the questions you are too afraid to ask. Hosts Breanne Williamson (the lesbian) and Sean Lusk (the gay) give comedic takes on their queer experiences in a show where nothing is truly ever off limits!"
  • "Queer As Fact is a podcast run by four Melbourne-based queer people with a background in history and a passion for sharing queer stories. They explore topics and figures from around the world and examine their place in the wider context of queer history."
  • "The Queer Mercado Podcast, where you will listen to Gaudencio Márquez talk with LGBTQ + vendors, artists & creators, that make up the Queer Mercado Community. You will hear their stories, their motivations, and the many ways they contribute to their local communities…they are the magic of the Queer Mercado."Queer Mercado Podcast 

 2. Prioritize Queer Media 

Claiming to be ignorant to the struggles the LGBTQ+ community face is no longer a valid excuse in 2022. With a world's access to social media platforms and endless news articles at the tip of your fingers.. there's no excuse. The queer community is based of the foundation of love and support, so show your love and support by following queer creators and sharing their educational posts with your friends and family. This is an amazing way to amplify their voices and listen to what the community says is problematic. As an ally, it is not your responsibility to decide what is problematic- but to listen the community and share their worldview. Below are a few Instagram accounts I find very useful when learning more about LGBTQ+ politics and social awareness:

Matt Bernstein

I'd be surprised if you haven't seen one of his posts by now! Matt is the ultimate LGBTQ+ advocator; their posts summarize significant political and social issues in digestible and shareable posts. 

    Schuyler Bailar 

    "Schuyler is an internationally-celebrated inspirational speaker, author, and advocate for trans inclusion, radical body acceptance, and mental health awareness."

      Dr. Trinetra Haldar Gummaraiu 

      This 23-year-old has achieved a lot in her short years! She is not only a content creator, but also a doctor who seeks to help others understand the process of transitioning and gives insight on the daily life in someone who is transgender. 

         

        3. Be Loud And Proud

        Speaking of Instagram, if your LGBTQ+ loved one is open and out then this Pride Month might be the perfect time for you to work on changing your vocabulary through your Instagram posts. Post a picture of you two at a Pride Parade and respect their new pronouns, or use "partner" rather than "boyfriend", etc. Live beyond the binary with some of these Instagram caption ideas:

        Feeling Lyrical?

        -“Make lots of noise. Kiss lots of boys or kiss lots of girls if that’s something you're into” - Kasey Musgraves 

        -“I see your true colors and that's why I love you”- Cindy Lauper 

        -“From the playboys to the gay boys, go and slay, boys” -Lizzo

        Feeling Political?

        -The Stonewall Riots started and ended in 1969, but the fight is not over

        -Make America Gay Again 

        -“Equality means more than passing laws. The struggle is really won in the hearts and minds of the community… where it really counts" -Barbara Gittings

        -“Why is it that as a culture, we are more comfortable seeing two men holding guns than holding hands” -Ernest J. Gaines

        -“It takes no compromise to give people their rights. It takes no money to respect the individual. It takes no politics to give people freedom. It takes no survey to remove repression.” -Harvey Milk

        Feeling Funny & Simple?

        -You’re a Fruit Loop in a world of cheerios- and I’m so damn proud

        -Do you boo.

        -Time to start letting people be themselves, k? 

        -Proud this month & every other month

        -I told him/her/them to pick a color and they chose the whole damn rainbow

        Feeling sentimental?

        -Good for each other. Good to each other. Look good together. Your love is all good. 

        -The world needs more love like the love that you two share. 

        -I’m here for the long phone conversations, the midnight vent sessions, the spur-of-the-moment celebrations; whatever your coming-out journey calls for. I’m so proud of you for being you. 

        -Transitioning isn't easy but watching you be this happy is. 

        -I’m here to be vocal about the things that matter to you because you matter to me.

        -I’m not able to walk in your shoes but I can walk beside them

        4. Take A Stand With Your Dollars

        The underrepresentation the queer community face is, not only invalidating but, exhausting to have to "constantly come out". Think about how often a gay man is told "Oh you're at the park with your daughter? Where is her mother?" or maybe "Are you two friends watching your children together?" Imagine the smile your LGBTQ+ loved one will have knowing you mindfully purchased an item for them that accurately represents their family!

         Baby Pea Tree is not just a clothing company, but a community focused brand who's mission is to make everyone feel seen, heard and accepted through representation because they believe LOVE is LOVE. They make organic cotton onesies and t-shirts, as well as, use eco friendly shipping products, all to minimize their impact on the environment.

        Don't forget to check out their adult Peas In A Pod Baseball Cap! If you're a fan of dad hats, you're going to love this! 

        5. Donate Donate Donate 

        Give with confidence to organizations that stick to their vision statement and truly make a difference. With that said, let me introduce you to Family Equality! Family Equality's mission is to advance legal and lived equality for LGBTQ families, and for those who wish to form them, through building community, changing hearts and minds, and driving policy change.

        One of their most impactful campaigns, Every Child Deserves a Family, is dedicated to ending discrimination in adoption and foster care and ensuring that youth receive affirming care. Adopting a child is beautiful and self-sacrificing, however, the love can't end there. Affirming care is necessary to keep children safe and happy.  

        "An estimated 30–34 percent of youth in care identify as LGBTQ+2S. These young people report twice the rate of mistreatment in care as their non-LGBTQ+2S counterparts. Black children also generally receive inferior services while in care. Furthermore, the state keeps them out of their homes for longer periods of time than their white counterparts"

        You can read more about their policy recommendation to the Biden Administration and sign their pledge to end adoption discrimination- here! 

        Newer Post