Support That Matters: Pride Month and Beyond

June is designated as Pride Month in the US. While you’ve probably seen pride flags and rainbows everywhere over the last few days, Pride Month is more than parades and rainbows. It is dedicated to visibility, safety, and support for those in the LGBTQ+ community. 

Attending and participating in parades, festivals and other gatherings this month are great ways to show your support, and it doesn’t have to stop there! Keep reading for a few ways to incorporate other avenues of support and allyship into your life outside of Pride Month. 

Listen without fixing. 

Holding space for those in the LGBTQ+ community to share their lived experiences is essential to being supportive. You might be tempted to give advice or explain away a difficulty they are sharing, but don’t. Solutions are valuable when someone asks for them, and often times the best thing to say is “I hear you” or “I see you.” Listen to their story and validate their feelings. 

Respect names and pronouns.

If someone asks you to use a specific name and/or pronouns, use them. Even when they are not around. You can easily participate in sharing your pronouns by including your pronouns in your signature line on emails, as this allows space for others to do the same. Using a correct pronoun is a simple way to show that you care about them and value them as a human. This is about dignity and respect, not politics. 

Do your own research.

An easy way to burden a minority group is by expecting them to teach you. Being an ally means doing your own homework and research to gain better understanding. There are numerous LGBTQ+ books, podcasts, and LGBTQ+ voices online you can reference in your learning journey. Changing your perspective away from “expecting to be taught” lifts a burden from the LGBTQ+ community. 

Speak up. 

Silence can appear as support for the loudest voice in the room. So, if you disagree with a biased or homophobic comment, speak up. Use your voice to challenge bias even if it feels uncomfortable. It will make a difference to those in the LGBTQ+ community. 

Check on mental health.

Check on your LGBTQ+ loved ones. Let them know you are a safe space for them to share their feelings and struggles, but don’t push them to share. Just asking how they are can make a huge difference and show them you care deeply. Encourage therapy if they’re struggling and offer to help them find affirming care if they desire it. 

Being an ally or support to the LGBTQ+ community is not about being perfect. It’s about consistently showing up with empathy, understanding, and action. If you make a mistake, just acknowledge it and apologize. Small steps can make a big difference in someone’s life.