Regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, anyone can support the LGBTQ community. Supporting the LGBTQ community means that someone is an ally of this population. Allies are crucial and welcomed supporters of the LGBTQ community as they have powerful and influential voices that the world can listen to. They can help spread the awareness of LGBTQ equal rights to the world and create a platform for activism to fight homophobia and transphobia, regardless of their sexual orientation. Being an LGBTQ ally also means unconditional kindness with zero judgment of another's life experiences and a full-time commitment to diversity, inclusion, and respect. So how do we become an LGBTQ Ally?
 Ilustrasi LGBTQ/ Foto: Pexels |
Be a good listener
If you want to be an ally of the LGBTQ community and speak for them, you also need to listen. By listening to the community concerns shared on social media, you can take notes on what has been going on and what they are struggling with at the time. Also, when someone comes out to you, let them set the conversation and never nudge in what they don't want to talk about. Give them an implying response that you understand their concerns casually. You don't want to forget to take note of their sexual orientation and what they use as their pronouns.
Do the research and educate yourself!
To learn about the community, you need to educate yourself by doing some research about the current issues to know which step of action you can take to help the community. You can follow LGBTQ topics on your social media to keep up to date on the issues. You can also learn about pronouns, what they are, why they matter, and how you can be an ally by introducing yourself with your pronouns. Asking questions to the community also can be done to widen your knowledge about the community. However, make sure to gut-check yourself to ensure the questions are not offensive or cumbersome.
 LGBTQ Ally/ Foto: Pexels |
Use your privilege for good!
It's such an unfortunate fact that people who are cisgender in our society are privileged. Cisgender people are not often found being mistreated and discriminated against for their sexuality. With that being said, recognizing your advantages when you're aware of the LGBTQ community who doesn't get equal rights and treatments can lead you to feel discomfort, anger, shame, or guilt. You can positively channel those emotions by acknowledging the unjust privilege and breaking the social structure and ending by being the oppressed group's voice to speak up to the world.
Talk to the people around you and support them to be an ally, too!
The great thing about being an ally for a community is that you can pursue people to open their eyes to the same matter. Share a piece of your thought and urge them to end the inequality--that people are currently faced with. And tell them about how important a small gesture of support from them is regarding the oppressed group in society, and don't forget to let them know that no matter how small their contribution to the community, how big it means to the community.
By being an ally and voicing your acknowledgment of the unjust social structure for the oppressed group of people, you have helped them to be heard.
(DIP/MEL)