Additional Notes on Allyship

1. Believe that issues related to oppression are everyone’s concern, not just the concern of those who are the targets of oppression.

 

2. Understand that people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, or asexual are experts on their own experience, and that you have much to learn from them.

 

3. Take responsibility for your own education on issues related to gender identity and sexual orientation.  Take the initiative to become as knowledgeable as you can on issues of concern to people who are LGBTQIA.

 

4. Making mistakes is part of the learning process of practicing allyship.  Acknowledge and apologize for mistakes; learn from them, but do not retreat.

 

5. Avoid trying to convince people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and intersex that you are on their side; just be there.

 

6. Remember that ally is a verb - actions are more powerful than words.

 

7. Create opportunities for allies to join together in coalition to reduce oppression of LGBTQIA people.

 

 

Adapted from CSU Long Beach’s, “Being an Ally.”