Top Tips to being an LGBTQ+ Ally

What does it take to be an ally to the LGBTQ+ community? Here are a few hints and tips to start you on your journey.

1. No matter which part of the world you live in, make some time to learn a little about LGBTQ+ history.  For example:

• Do you know when homosexuality was decriminalised? Has it been in your country?
• Do you know when the Equality Act was passed in the US to extend Civil Rights protection to include sexual orientation and gender identity? 
• Do you know what ‘Section 28’ is in the UK, and what it meant for LGBTQ+ people? 
• Do you know how many countries still uphold the death penalty for homosexuality in 2023? 
• Do you know when Equal Marriage rights were achieved? Have they been in your country?

2. Be respectfully curious. If you have LGBTQ+ colleagues, why not tell them a little about you, and ask them about themselves and their backgrounds? So long as you’re being respectful and don’t turn it into an interrogation, most people would be more than happy to talk about who they are and what this means for them. However, it’s important to respect peoples’ boundaries. If there’s a question that you wouldn’t be willing to answer yourself, don’t ask it! 

3. Use inclusive language wherever possible.  If you work in a service industry, you’re probably used to using the terms “sir”, “madam / Ma’am” or “miss” or even saying things like “ladies and gentleman”. Why not try using more inclusive terms that don’t refer to someone’s gender? A good example is, you could try “Good afternoon / morning everyone”?

4. Learn about pronouns.  You’ve probably heard people referring to their pronouns, and declaring that they are “He/Him”, “She/Her” or “They/Them” but do you know what this means and why it’s important? Pronouns are a way of indicating to others what your gender identity is, and when you tell people what your pronouns are it shows to those who are gender-diverse or transgender that you understand and support them. 

5. Commit 365 days a year – not just during LGBTQ+ History Month or Pride Month. Be consistent in your explicit commitment to supporting LGBTQ+ people all year round as this shows true, meaningful and genuine allyship.

6. Always challenge inappropriate language or behaviour. If you see someone from the LGBTQ+ community being treated badly, be an upstander by challenging the behaviour and stand with them by offering your support.

7. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes – you will! We don’t always get things right, and that’s OK. Get comfortable with getting things wrong, apologise and promise to get it right next time.

8. Do it because it’s the right thing to do.

If you're interested in learning more about how to have inclusive conversations or how to introduce cultural change within your organisation to promote diversity and inclusion get in touch with one our consulting team.