Allyship within the LGBTQIA+ Community

Firstly, you’re probably wondering what is an ally?

Minus18 describe an ally as “…someone who supports and advocates for the equal treatment of a community other than their own”. For this article, we will be focusing on allyship and the LGBTQIA+ community.

It is okay to want to be an ally, but not know where to start. The most important thing is to do your research and respectfully ask questions to continue learning.

Becoming involved with the queer community is probably something that is very new to a lot of you as international students coming to live in Australia. That’s okay, we are here to support you so that’s why for this week’s article we will be sharing with you some simple steps you can take towards being an ally.

“The beauty of standing up for your rights is others see you standing and stand up as well.”
Cassandra Duffy

Have you heard about pronouns? They are words used to refer to a person instead of their name. Some are gendered (she/her/hers, he/him/his) and some are gender neutral (they/them/theirs). It is important to use the correct pronoun because it affirms the way someone feels about themselves. This is a great first step in acting as an ally, because we use pronouns in our day to day conversations. This is part of how we can be visible in our allyship. You can also do this by sharing your own pronouns. It’s super easy to do this such as next to your name on Zoom or in your email signature. You could even get a pin and add it to your lanyard or on your bag.

Something to remember is that a person’s pronouns may not match how they appear to you. This is why it’s important to know what people’s pronouns are. Pronouns can also be used in any combination such as She/They, He/They, She/They/He.

If someone discloses to you that they are from the LGBTQIA+ community, you should ask respectfully what pronouns they use and then use those pronouns. You can also correct anyone who misgenders this person by using the incorrect pronouns. For example, if your friend Jin uses pronouns he/him/theirs and someone refers to Jin using she/her pronouns then you can respectfully tell this person that Jin uses he/him/theirs pronouns. It’s okay to make the mistake sometimes, you can apologise before moving on and trying to continue learning. Repeated mistakes can count as bullying and harrassment as it indicates a lack of respect.

If you want to read and learn more about pronouns and inclusive language when speaking languages other than English, check out this resource by Wear It Purple.

Next up, is learning continuously. There are lots of training resources available, a great one being the ally@UNSW training. This training is free and available for UNSW College students too. You can also learn by asking questions of friends who are a part of the queer community too. As long as you are genuine and respectful with your questions, I’m sure your friends would be more than happy to answer and help you to learn and understand!

Lastly, get involved! Attend events such as Mardi Gras, IDAHOBIT, Pride Month, Wear It Purple, or other pride related events within your local community. There is nothing better than immersing yourself within these events to learn and meet others from the LGBTQIA+ community!

Staff Profile

Name: Henry
Role: Student Life Officer (Peer Program)

What would be your advice to someone who wants to be a good ally to our LGBTQIA+ community?

It’s okay not to know. If you have questions or are unfamiliar with the LGBTQIA+ community but want to learn more, please feel free to ask. Listen with empathy and respect.

Do you have anything you would say to your younger self?

Always speak up about your needs and boundaries. You definitely deserve respect and acceptance.

If someone is wanting to explore their gender or sexual identities, how can they do this while feeling safe and supportive?

Reach out to friends who are belonging to LGBTQIA+ groups or clubs. Please be patient with yourself. You might need more time to process your feelings and explore your identity.