Being an Ally: World Book Day 2023

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I really can't say enough about how incredible this anthology is and what a great job editors Dana Alison Levy and Shakirah Bourne did in curating a diverse array of experiences. There are essays about racism, transracial adoption, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, colonialism, feminism, and so much more. This wasn't always the easiest read, nor did I expect it to be. Many of the essays forced me to think about my own privilege and how I can use it to advocate for and uplift the voices of others.

Once you know the history you can help to shape the future. Do some research into the specific battles that are being fought now, and find out the obstacles that the LGBT community is facing. Discover specific campaigns that resonate with you so you can get active and focus your support to help really make a difference. 4. Get involved in the community and show your support Sitting at home on the internet is the tip of the ally iceberg. If you really want to get involved in the cause it’s important to get out there and active in your community. With Stonewall season approaching it’s easy to find LGBT events near you that welcome allies. Let the LGBT community know that you stand with them because your presence at events is a significant show of solidarity and support. Joining the conversation and listening to the experiences of the people you meet will undoubtedly broaden your understanding of what is means to be an ally and better your awareness of how to help to achieve equality for all. 5. Stand up for what you believe in Being an ally is not an easy thing for everyone to do and it is not something that you can just stand there and say “I’m an ally for race equality”. It’s about taking serious action and putting some real energy into those actions. Invite members of underrepresented groups within your company to speak at staff meetings, write for company-wide newsletters, or take on other highly visible roles. Apologies are social contracts that hold you accountable. They tell others that you are taking responsibility, are open to the consequences of your actions, and plan to do better in the future.While you’re already on Google getting to grips with every letter of the LGBT+ alphabet you can explore the history of the LGBT movement. Getting to know the history of LGBT activism is an empowering act in becoming an LGBT ally. As well as honouring the effort and sacrifices of those that have come before, it’s important to appreciate how far we have come in the struggle for equality to fully understand how far we have left to go. 3. Discover the challenges facing the LGBT community today I remember being impressed by Lisa, a white software engineer who stepped outside of her comfort zone to be an ally. When asked to name her “spirit animal” as part of a team-building exercise, Lisa spoke up. She wasn’t comfortable taking part in an exercise that appropriated Native American spiritual traditions. Upset, I couldn’t understand what happened. Did the conversation we had not get through? What didn’t they step up? Then it dawned on me:

Your desire to give an apology right now doesn’t mean that the receiver is ready for it. Some people need space to process, and you should respect that. When they’re willing to reconnect, if at all, they may let you know (or they may not). For World Book Day 2023 we ran three online events. These fun events were fantastically well-attended, and we look forward to seeing you all again next year!It’s up to people who hold positions of privilege to be active allies to those with less access, and to take responsibility for making changes that will help others be successful. Active allies utilize their credibility to create a more inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive, and find ways to make their privilege work for others.

Consider the context in which you want to apologize and how that might affect not only you but also the person receiving your apology. This guide can’t and shouldn’t be everything to you. At some point, you need to take responsibility and further your education. When you’re done with the guide, please find ways to learn more. Conscious Style Guide’s Gender, Sex, and Sexuality Guide (great resources for journalists, reporters, anyone who’s writing about sex and /gender)You can nod, show you’re thinking and taking in their ideas, indicate you want to know more, let them know you’re confused by one of their points, and so on. A more complete acronym is LGBTQQIAAP: lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transexual, queer, questioning, intersex, ally, asexual, and pansexual: In one study, nearly two-thirds of women and people of color in engineering reported having to prove their expertise repeatedly, compared to 35 percent of white men — their expertise was questioned, their successes were discounted, and they were often pressured to let white men take the lead, while at the same time they were asked to do office housework. This is definitely a thought-provoking collection of essays, one that anyone can learn from, provided they’re willing to learn. A wide variety of viewpoints are represented, from people who learned to be allies and those who needed allies at some point and managed to find them. Some are more eloquent than others, but all have interesting stories to tell.

Imagine your privilege is a heavy boot that keeps you from feeling when you’re stepping on someone’s feet or they’re stepping on yours, while oppressed people have only sandals. If someone says, “ouch! You’re stepping on my toes,” how do you react? However, as someone who has done this many times, I’ve learned that if someone is experiencing impostor syndrome or if they are dealing with a lot in their life, they may say no or not respond to your invitation. Try again, and let them know why you want their expertise. And if you’re Think of pain as a gradient—it doesn’t have to be extreme to have a significant impact. Accidentally misgendering someone can cause them pain. Stepping on someone’ toes can cause them pain. Attributes of a good apology A person who is feeling marginalized or excluded, tokenized or like an impostor may sideline themselves — by not speaking up, not contributing, not showing up.These glossaries can help make conversations easier and help all of us acquire the language to be as respectful and accurate as possible with our language. We’ve been revolting, rescuing ourselves and rising up, in spite of systemic oppression, for centuries. We’ve had no choice but to, for our own self-preservation and survival. What we really need white people to do is consciously, consistently and intentionally unlearn racism. It’s no secret that shame and guilt go hand in hand with unlearning racism – but you can’t do this work in any meaningful, or truthful way without experiencing these feelings at some point and you will consistently feel uncomfortable. Trying to do anti-racism work while remaining comfortable, to actively avoid confronting feelings, is just not possible.