Today's activist tip is directed towards our straight friends and family. Coming out as an ally on behalf the LGBT community can sometimes be daring and challenging pending on the environment you are in. Straight allies are key towards our collective battle for equality. When you speak out as a straight person in favor of LGBT civil rights, it goes to show that the fight for equality is not just about black or white, gay or straight, or man or woman, but purely about human dignity and human rights.
Straight people outnumber gay people and the more voices being heard the more succesful our respective campaigns. Also, someone who may be on the fence with regards to marriage equality, adoption, transgender concerns, and/or other aspects of LGBT life will be able to relate to and be more likely to be convinced by a fellow straight person who sides with equality.
So, to our straight brethren show your rainbow wristband, spark conversations about equality, sign those petitions, and speak up when you hear homo/transphobia. Be out, proud, and loud for those of us who don't have a voice or whose voice is shunned by our adversaries.
Check out PFLAG's Guide to Being a Straight Ally
Friday, September 12, 2008
Activist Tip: Come Out as a Straight Ally
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
5 comments:
Thank you so much for this
Great timing on this article. I just posted one about "Seven Straight Nights for Equal Rights" which is being held next Tuesday here in Phoenix. It's a week long event across the country.
Check out the article at: http://desertspeak.blogspot.com/
BTW - the article is titled STRAIGHT ALLIES DEMAND EQUALITY FOR LGBT AMERICANS and was posted yesterday, Sept. 11th
I think that's really cool, but it always aggravates me when people refer to the "LGBT" community, and then never refer to bisexuals or transgender people at all! I was waiting to read something in there like, "...and you can ask your trans friends what pronouns they want to use" or something...but nope.
Steve and anonymous thank you
Ily people use the term and aren't really inclusive which is sad. PFLAG has become more bi/trans inclusive lately which is a step in the right direction.
Post a Comment