Safe Zone
Tools to Become More Effective as an Ally to LGBTQ people
So...what does it mean to be an ally to LGBTQ people, and HOW can we each become the best allies we can be?
| Washington and Evans (1991) define an ally as " a person who works to end oppression in his or her personal and professional life through support of, and as an advocate for, and oppressed population" (p. 195). |
Becoming an Ally. In Nancy J Evans and Vernon A Wall (Eds.), Beyond tolerance: Gays,,lesbians and bisexuals on campus |
And what motivates us to do ally work
| "An ally [to LGBTQ people] is one who takes action against homophobia and heterosexism (heterosexual privilege) because they believe it is beneficial to lesbian, gay, and bisexual [and Transgender] people and because they believe it is in their own self-interest as well" |
Teaching for Diversity and Social Justice (1997). Maurianne Adams, et al (Eds.), p. 146. |
Growing more and more effective as allies on behalf of LGBTQ people, means our willingness to work on at least four levels of our own personal development:
- Awareness and Sensitivity
- Knowledge & Information
- Skill & Competence
- Action
We offer the following tools to help you on your own journey of growth as an ally:
- Building a common language: Glossary of LGBTQ-related terms
- Increasing awareness of heterosexism and homophobia
- Understanding gender variance
- Providing effective service to transgender people
- Learning tips for allies
