Becoming an Ally

Maybe you’ve read through the Talking about Sex and Unlearning sections and don’t see what the big deal is. Or maybe you get it, but don’t see how it personally affects you. There are lots of reasons we get involved and care about issues that don’t personally affect us, and we can still advocate for change to improve things for everyone.

Here are some situations where you might advocate for or with someone (content warnings for assault, abuse, transphobia and queerphobia):

  • Your family member tells racist jokes.
  • Your sibling discovered they are pregnant and would like help accessing an abortion.
  • Your friend is worried about going to the clinic because of transphobia they have experienced before.
  • Your partner wants to ask their other partner to get tested for STIs with them.
  • Your friend was assaulted and needs support.
  • Your sibling is in an abusive relationship.
  • Your friend came out to their family and was kicked out of the house.

Check out Chescaleigh’s video on how to be an ally. Here are the 5 tips she gives as starters:

  1. Understand your privilege: Knowing how you benefit from systems of power and privilege.
  2. Listen & do your homework: Listen to folks who are experiencing oppression, and educate yourself on the issues.
  3. Speak up, not over: Use your voice to educate, but don’t overstep. Create space for the voices of the community you want to support.
  4. Apologize when you make mistakes: If you mess up (even if you didn’t mean it like that), apologize and commit to doing better.
  5. Ally is a verb: You can’t call yourself an ally, you can only work toward allyship. It’s a process and a journey.