1. Letting LGBTQ voices be heard
Being an ally first means being a support system to the LGBTQ people in your life and listening to what their feelings and needs are.
While as allies, we can empathize and advocate for the LGBTQ community, but we cannot speak directly for them. You can share articles written by LGBTQ authors, attend LGBTQ events, such as pride and vigils, and ask our LGBTQ friends and community members what they need assistance with.
The question should also be centered on how we can be most helpful.
2. Be inclusive
Whether offering your LGBTQ family members and friends support, or advocating for an inclusive environment, working to end the marginalization of LGBTQ people is a step toward equality.
I work at a domestic violence and sexual assault center and after inviting a LGBTQ organization to train staff, we put up posters in support of the community, made adjustments to our paperwork to be more gender-inclusive and created an LGBTQ task force.
While this is not as easy or even possible in all places of employment, there are other ways to help, like writing a status online to let LGBTQ people know you’re a source of support if they need to talk after the shooting, or inviting LGBTQ friends and family to hang out.
3. Advocate for change
We can contact our local policy makers and advocate for laws that work to end discrimination against LGBTQ people. While marriage equality was a steppingstone toward social justice, there is still rampant discrimination against the LGBTQ community and national issues such as LGBTQ homelessness, acts of violence, health and economic disparities, and more.
You can learn how to contact your elected officials at USA.gov, and if you’re interested specifically in advocating for LGBTQ rights’ within the military, you can join the American Military Partner Association, a nonprofit that works to support LGBT service members’ spouses, partners, and families.
Because while the military has come a long way, there is still more that can be done for our LGBTQ service members.
