Welcome to the 25th letter in our LGBTQ+ Resources A-Z blog. When it comes to the letter “Y,” the most important resource I can think of is “YOU!” Yep, that’s what I’m going to go with, YOU!
Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” http://www.goodreads.com Even though the word YOU isn’t in the quote, YOU get the idea? Don’t YOU? What YOU say, or don’t say. How YOU act or don’t act. Where YOU spend your time/money/talent, or don’t spend those, do matter!
YOU don’t have to go to a PRIDE parade or wear rainbow clothing, but YOU could be an ally in some simple ways. I’ll remind YOU of three ways YOU can be an LGBTQ+ Ally:
(1) SHOW YOU are an ally by not buying pink or blue items for a baby shower. Green, yellow and purple are lovely non-gendered colors. YOU can SHOW you’re an ally by wearing a rainbow ribbon, or displaying a rainbow sticker. YOU will SHOW anyone in the LGBTQ+ world YOU are an ally by that simple gesture.
(2) SHIFT YOUR mindset and those mindsets around YOU. When YOU hear a homophobic joke, or, if YOU see a homophobic meme, STOP the joke or STOP the meme. YOU can SHIFT from a small “a” ally to a capital “A” Ally by shifting the hurtful behaviors around YOU. Sometimes, silence equals approval. Take a moment to think about that, what can and will YOU do?
(3) SHAPE YOUR environment to be inclusive. YOU control where you spend your money. YOU control how you vote. YOU decide where to volunteer. If YOU are able to SHAPE policies, THAT is a double bonus! If you are in the majority, how will YOU use your voice?
Maya Angelou said it best, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
https://www.biography.com/news/maya-angelou-quotes
YOU matter. YOU are not alone. YOU can make a difference. YOU get the idea, right?
Thank YOU for taking the time to read this blog, and maybe even to share it with YOUR sphere of influence.
Lisa Koenecke (Lady Rainbow), YOUR Inclusion ALLY