Being a Better Ally

Being a Better Ally

When we don the pride flag every June for, possibly, in this case, a virtual celebration of Pride Month, we are taking time to reflect on how much society has progressed in accepting and respecting people from all sexual orientations and gender identities. But also, it is a sobering reminder of how much more work we still need to do. In 2019, it was reported by the UK government that over two thirds of people who identify as LGBTQIA+ and took part in this survey stated that they have not held hands with a partner because they were wary of people’s response. For straight people, holding hands is never questioned by society. We as straight people need to place ourselves under a microscope to examine our privileges as we sidestep this continuously.

As straight people make statements on social media proclaiming support for the LGBTQIA+ community, how much time do we really take to ponder our privilege as a straight person. How much do you think about your alliance with people who identify as LGBTQIA+? With privilege, comes power. With power, we can be strong allies to communities – if we are needed. Know when to use your voice to speak out against discrimination of any sort, whether it is a passing remark or a blatant attack on someone, and know when you are interrupting.

Researching and learning about different communities is one of many ways to understand what communities are going through and why some people may feel they cannot announce their love for someone in public, but you can. Because of the internet, resources have never been so accessible as they are now: for a more local insight, look at LGBT Youth Scotland to explore the incredible support they offer to LGBTQ youth. They are also open to volunteers for different types of roles and are open for donations. Why not add Samra Habib’s We Have Always Been Here: A Queer Muslim Memoir to your reading list as a starter for your learning? If you want to find something to watch, Disclosure offers an excellent insight into the portrayal of transgender people in the media. These suggestions are not prescriptive, but they can encourage you to integrate more education about various communities in your everyday life.

Listen to people. Listening to someone’s experiences including their stories, their thoughts and their feelings is just as important as a dialogue. Because when you listen, your connection with someone strengthens and the bond increases. You can learn to stop thinking of the ‘perfect’ thing to say, and instead, learn to just be there for someone, if your friend, work colleague, family member or anyone is struggling through misfortune or sailing through bliss.

It is important to remember that each person that identifies as LQBTQIA+ has a unique experience, which may be affected by their ethnicity, gender, socio-economic background, and more. Within the community, people have different experiences. Respect their experiences. I hope this is only the start to your learning journey as you continue to improve as an ally.

By Nuha Zulkernain.

Nuha is a Publishing student in Edinburgh. She graduated from Edinburgh Napier with a degree in English literature in 2020. She volunteers as the In clusivity Officer for the SYP Scotland com mittee 2021/2022 and enjoys reviewing books by marginalised writers on Instagram to expand the literary space. Nuha loves reading dystopian fiction, writing short sto ries, and making playlists for any mood.