What is an Ally?
An ally is a person who takes a stand against oppression, works to eliminate oppressive attitudes and beliefs in themselves and their communities, and works to interrogate and understand their privilege. There are many different ways to be an ally to LGBTQPIA people and numerous opportunities to become involved with the community at Loyola University Maryland.
How can I be an Ally?
Allies are encouraged to attend Pride Resource Room, Spectrum, and The LGBTQ+ Experience events to learn more about issues that concern LGBTQPIA communities. Staff and faculty can attend SafeZone Training, held every semester.
Being an active Ally
You can also be a strong and active ally in your everyday life. Here are a few suggestions:
- Attend LGBTQPIA+ events, meeting, and programs on campus
- Attend Sexuality and Gender Diversity Awareness Week events
- Become an officer in one of LGBTQPIA+ student organizations
- Critically consider media presentations of LGBTQPIA+ issues and call, email, or write the appropriate parties with complaints, suggestions, or praise
- Don't "out" people unless given permission to do so
- Don't make assumptions, and ask about things you don't understand
- Go see or rent LGBTQPIA+-themed movies or TV shows
- Go to the Baltimore or Washington, D.C. pride events.
- Have clubs to which you belong sponsor or co-sponsor LGBTQPIA+ or LGBTQPIA+-friendly activities or events
- Interrupt, confront, or react to homophobic and transphobic jokes, slurs, comments, or assumptions--this can be done privately or publicly
- Learn about LGBTQPIA+ pride signs, symbols, and history
- Learn about the Pride Resource Room, its services, and programs
- Participate in an AIDS Walk
- Post an Ally sticker on your whiteboard, in your room, or next to your door.
- Provide correct information when you hear myths and misperceptions about LGBTQPIA+ people
- Provide support to LGBTQPIA+ individuals who are targeted or subjects of heterosexist, homophobic/biphobic/transphobic jokes, slurs, comments, or assumptions—this can be done publicly or privately
- Read LGBTQPIA+ newspapers, magazines, and books
- Recognize that closeted people in your halls, classes, clubs, and jobs are assessing how safe that environment is for them
- Recruit LGBTQPIA+ Students, Staff, Faculty, & Adminstrators to join our Loyola community.
- Risk discomfort, and take risks to learn and grow as a person
- Remember that there are always people in your halls, classes, clubs, and jobs who are LGBTQPIA+, whether you know it or not
- Say the words gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and asexual out loud!
- Sign a petition
- Take a class dealing with LGBTQPIA+ issues
- Talk with and learn from LGBTQPIA+ friends, classmates, and colleagues
- Talk with friends informally and openly about LGBTQPIA+ events or issues in the news, on TV shows, and in movies
- Understand how heterosexism and homophobia affect both LGBTQPIA+ people and straight and cisgender people
- Understand your own feelings around LGBTQPIA+ issues
- Understand your socialization, prejudices, and privileges
- Understand why you feel it is important to actively be an ally
- Visit the Pride Resource Room in ALANA Services
- Vote pro-LGBTQPIA+
- Vote for LGBTQPIA+ representation in public office and religious service.
- Wear an Ally or Pride button on your backpack
- When talking about relationships, use inclusive language like "partner" or "date"