{"id":229,"date":"2022-06-21T11:23:22","date_gmt":"2022-06-21T11:23:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/breakthecycle.org\/5-steps-better-lgbtq-allyship\/"},"modified":"2024-04-14T23:37:34","modified_gmt":"2024-04-14T23:37:34","slug":"5-steps-better-lgbtq-allyship","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.breakthecycle.org\/blog\/5-steps-better-lgbtq-allyship\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Steps to Better LGBTQ* Allyship"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Please note: Entries within this blog may contain references to instances of domestic abuse, dating abuse, sexual assault, abuse or harassment. At all times, Break the Cycle encourages readers to take whatever precautions necessary to protect themselves emotionally and psychologically.\u00a0 If you would like to speak with an advocate, please contact a 24\/7 peer advocate at\u00a0<\/span>866-331-9474<\/a>\u00a0 or text “loveis” to 22522.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

5 Steps to Better LGBTQ* Allyship<\/div>\n
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June is an important month at Break the Cycle. June is PRIDE, a month where we celebrate collective movement, connection and power of LGBTQ*1<\/sup> communities. PRIDE began in 1970\u2014as a way to commemorate the\u00a01969<\/a> Stonewall Riots<\/a> in Greenwich Village, NYC. The police raid that led to the riots at the Stonewall Inn was a symptom of a society that was unwelcoming of LGBTQ* individuals and oppressive on LGBTQ* concerns and issues. When I imagine the first PRIDE marches that took place the year after, I imagine what it was like\u2026the power, the fear, and sense of unity the participants must have felt.<\/p>\n

I wonder if the Stonewall Rioters and original marchers ever imagined how PRIDE would look today. There are not only marches in large urban settings, but in many small towns as well. The community and its allies have come together to obtain protections for LGBTQ* survivors<\/a> in the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) after years and years of advocacy. Same-sex marriage is now the law of the land<\/a>. These triumphs should be acknowledged, respected, and celebrated.<\/p>\n

And yet, there is still a long way to go<\/strong> in the fight for true equality. When I was growing up in a small town in middle America in the 80\u2019s, you could regularly hear, \u201cthat is so gay\u201d\u2026meaning that is so dumb or stupid. Being \u201cout\u201d was not a safe choice. When I think back to our town\u2019s ignorance I am ashamed. One of my best friends in high school was gay, but he was in danger every day in our small town. To survive he had to close off who he truly was. Only as an adult far away from our small town was he able to truly be himself, find his life partner, and have a child. For young people, this reality still exists. When Break the Cycle talks with LGBTQ* youth across the country at our Real Talks, they have told us that the barriers for LGBTQ* individuals and ignorance of LGBTQ* realities are alive and well. Some, although \u201cout,\u201d face humiliation, name calling, and lack of access to a bathroom. The words may have changed since the 80’s when I was in high school, but because we have not coupled those words with action, the underlying oppression still lingers. How do we\u2014as individuals or as members of social justice causes\u2014show up to support LGBTQ* youth? How can we be better allies?<\/p>\n

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Start by not just talking the talk, but walking the walk. Here are 5 steps for better LGBTQ* allyship:<\/p>\n

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  1. Be open.<\/strong> If you authentically challenge your privileges, that you are an ally not only in name but in action, young people will feel it. As one of our Let\u2019s Be Real members said about sexuality and gender identity, \u201cYou don\u2019t have to relate to something to accept it.\u201d<\/li>\n
  2. \u200bAsk questions.<\/strong> Then, actively listen to the response. For example, the evolving LGBTQ* acronym may change; you won\u2019t learn it once and be done with it. Allyship is a constant learning process.<\/li>\n
  3. \u200bDon\u2019t assume a person’s identity.<\/strong> The right to self-determination of the person you are talking with is critical. Do they want you to use the term lesbian, gay, or queer? What\u2019s their preferred gender pronoun? Listen and you will know.<\/li>\n
  4. Challenge discrimination in your life.<\/strong> Look at how your organization\/place of work supports LGBTQ* individuals in policy, procedure, and words. Are people\u2019s gender pronouns respected? Does your health insurance or your life insurance policy recognize domestic partnerships? Do you support and collaborate with organizations that serve LGBTQ* communities? Do you have a zero tolerance policy against homophobia among staff and board? Lead by example, and stand up to prejudice.<\/li>\n
  5. Make way for the power of young people.<\/strong> Think of the last time someone believed in you; when someone shows an interest in you – your reality, your politics, and your preferences – you know it and you feel respected. The best way to help youth is to follow their lead, use your privilege when they ask you to, and be ready to always step aside so their voices can be heard.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Allyship is a journey. You will never reach the end or check it off of your \u201cto-do\u201d list.<\/strong> It is a constant work in progress and a commitment to a state of mind. The first step is keeping your privilege front and center when talking with youth who identify as LGBTQ*. Constantly checking your assumptions is the second. Believing in the power of community to affect change is the third. Speaking up and directly confronting oppression when you see and hear it is the next step. Finally, support in ways that are requested\u2026not because it\u2019s what you think is best. Not sure where to start? Download Break the Cycle\u2019s LGBTQ* Inclusivity tip sheets<\/a> to assist you your journey.<\/strong> We\u2019re proud to stand with you as youth and LGBTQ* allies.<\/p>\n

    1<\/sup>As a measure of inclusivity, we use the acronym LGBTQ* to include all sexual orientations, gender identities, and expressions. We understand that identities are not limited to the terms represented by the letters in this acronym and aim to be representative of the entirety of identities across the queer spectrum.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

    In allyship,<\/p>\n

    Amy\u00a0S<\/span>\u00e1nchez<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

    CEO, Break the Cycle<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Please note: Entries within this blog may contain references to instances of domestic abuse, dating … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":600,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.breakthecycle.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/229"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.breakthecycle.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.breakthecycle.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.breakthecycle.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.breakthecycle.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=229"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.breakthecycle.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/229\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5306,"href":"https:\/\/www.breakthecycle.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/229\/revisions\/5306"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.breakthecycle.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/600"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.breakthecycle.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=229"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}