{"id":20882,"date":"2022-06-16T13:21:33","date_gmt":"2022-06-16T12:21:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thesocialelement.agency\/?p=20882"},"modified":"2023-07-29T15:42:32","modified_gmt":"2023-07-29T14:42:32","slug":"being-an-lgbtq-ally","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesocialelement.agency\/being-an-lgbtq-ally","title":{"rendered":"Being an LGBTQ+ ally"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

In their post on Pride month, my amazing colleague Abe Blackburn wrote about how important it is that companies set in place year-round action to support LGBTQ+ employees<\/a>.<\/strong> Part of that is creating a really strong culture of allyship.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

I\u2019m so lucky to lead the \u2018From ally to advocate\u2019 channel as part of \u2018Proud\u2019, our Employee Resource Group (ERG) at The Social Element. I come from a fairly conservative background in Florida, but I\u2019ve always tried to be inclusive. Even so, I had a lot to learn – and still do – particularly about gender. The ERG group, and Abe especially, gave me an opportunity to ask questions and to learn and grow, which means I can be a better LGBTQ+<\/a> ally.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

I also truly believe that being an LGBTQ+ ally has made me a better mom.<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

I feel quite emotional when I talk about this, but I\u2019m so proud of my kids, who never misgender anyone, and who are inclusive and kind. They\u2019re growing up without the bias that my generation inherited, and they\u2019ll stand up for someone who is being mistreated. It\u2019s normal to them to think in non-binary terms, to use they\/them pronouns, to have a diverse group of people in their lives. They\u2019re natural allies. It\u2019s wonderful to see and it\u2019s one of the greatest gifts I could be given as a parent.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Talking to colleagues of different genders makes me realise just how powerful language is, and how important it is that we learn terms and language around gender that might be new to some of us. I use she\/her pronouns, and I know how upset I\u2019d be if someone kept misgendering me. For many people, using binary gender terms is a habit learnt over our lifetimes, but it\u2019s one we can break with some thought and effort.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

As allies, we should talk to other people about these issues, too.<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

We can challenge and confront lazy stereotypes, or microaggressions, or abuse. And we can help other people around us learn. It doesn\u2019t seem right that all the onus should be on LGBTQ+ people to explain to people around them why it matters to use the right pronouns, for example. We can all correct people when they get it wrong, and take some of that burden. Part of this comes from doing really simple things like introducing ourselves with our pronouns in every day situations, to normalise it. We can correct people when they misgender someone, or be there for our LGBTQ+ colleagues in whatever way matters to them (not to us!). And we can stand up to homophobic or transphobic abuse, even when it\u2019s not directed at us.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Here are some practical examples of things I find helpful to do. It\u2019s not a definitive list, of course, and I\u2019m still learning and developing, but I hope they\u2019re a useful starting point or give you some ideas.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n