9 ways you can practise LGBTQ+ allyship
- Written byKat Smith
- Published date 16 June 2022
Allyship is a vital part of the fight for LGBTQ+ rights and there are practical steps everyone can take to support the LGBTQ+ community.
UAL supports the LGBTQ+ community and we ask you to consider how you can practise allyship – not just in Pride month but all the time.
Here are some ways in which you can practise meaningful allyship throughout Pride month and beyond:
Dedicate time and energy
Take time and responsibility to actively educate yourself and other allies about LGBTQ+ identities – the onus should not be put on those in the community to educate and share.
Listen and learn
Listen to LGBTQ+ people and their experiences and be open to being called up for any mistakes. Keep up with and adapt to changing language, conversations and challenges within the community.
Engage with LGBTQ+ culture
Engage with media such as films, books, podcasts and music from those within the LGBTQ+ community. This not only broadens your perspective but also supports marginalised artists and creators. As a first step, check out the UAL LGBTQ+ Content Library.
Don’t assume
Don’t assume anyone’s orientation, gender identity or pronouns. Assumptions make it harder for people to be their authentic selves and may perpetuate false stereotypes.
A practical step: Put pronouns in your social media bio and in your email signature – everyone has pronouns and sharing them shows that you wouldn’t expect people to know how you identify from a name or a picture, just as you wouldn't assume with them.
Be visible and speak up
Speak out about LGBTQ+ issues and when you see injustice. Don't underestimate the power of your voice and support. Make it clear that anti-LGBTQ+ comments and jokes are unacceptable and harmful, and call people out if they make them. If you witness any anti-LGBTQ+ behaviour or language at UAL, you can report it to the Tell Someone service.
Practical steps:
- Celebrate awareness days/weeks/months
- Attend events supporting the LGBTQ+ community
- Be vocal on social media about your support
- Celebrate those in the LGBTQ+ community and their successes.
Allyship is a crucial component in building fully inclusive communities in which everyone can be fully themselves, feeling recognised and supported. Being an ally is about engaging in an ongoing process of active solidarity. Ultimately, if we want to live in societies based on mutual trust and mutual recognition, we should all be prepared to be allies and to support each other in the ongoing struggle for full and meaningful inclusion and equality.
Steve Cross, LGBTQ+ Champion and Dean of Media at London College of Communication
De-centre yourself
De-centre yourself - if you make a mistake or are corrected, don’t take it personally.
It is important to act with the motivation of supporting LGBTQ+ people and rights, rather than being performative – performativity is allyship to increase social capital rather than because of one's genuine commitment and support.
Be intersectional
Intersectionality is a widely applied framework in studying and addressing issues of discrimination. It acknowledges that people can experience privilege and oppression simultaneously. The term was coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw.
“Intersectionality is an analytic framework that addresses how interlocking systems of power impact those who are most marginalised in society. Taking an intersectional approach means looking beyond a person’s individual identities and focusing on the points of intersection that their multiple identities create.”
Use inclusive language
Using inclusive language helps everyone to be included and respected in our day-to-day conversations.
A couple of tips:
- Avoid using ‘ladies and gentlemen’ which assumes that everyone identifies as either male or female, and instead use ‘everyone’ or ‘colleagues’ when addressing a group of people
- Use ‘they/them/theirs’ to refer to someone if you are not certain of their pronouns.
These tips are not exhaustive – there are multiple resources online about inclusive language. To name just a few:
Support LGBTQ+ organisations
There are multiple LGBTQ+ charities and organisations you can support. To name just a few:
Stonewall - fighting for the freedom, equity and potential of LGBTQ+ people everywhere.
Mermaids UK - a charity helping gender-diverse kids, young people and their families.
MindOut – a mental health charity supporting the LGBTQ+ community.
On a day-to-day basis, you can support businesses owned by LGBTQ+ people or companies/brands that are making meaningful contributions to the LGBTQ+ community.