Allies in the LGBT Community
To be an ally means that you, or your organisation, will cooperate and help others in their endeavours. Being an LGBT ally, where you identify as LGBT or not, means that you support civil rights, gender equality and stand up for a community facing challenges.  Being an ally means being an active friend to support colleagues, pupils and groups to be accepted without exception. Of course, you can be ally for other groups facing challenges too, the black and minority ethnic (BAME) and disabled communities for example, this type of support is fundamental to encouraging and achieving a diverse society where we are all accepted regardless of our identities.  
 
Being a Good Ally
Allies are important if we are really going to fight prejudice. To be a good ally you need to be active and proactive. Here are some things you can do:

• Be a friend: be open minded, listen, talk, show solidarity through your actions and behaviours.
• Empower yourself: Find out what the different terms mean. We all have different identities and they are all valid. Get to know the terms and what they mean for people so you can be confident in your understanding.
• Stand up as an ally: Where a pin badge, a lanyard, talk about topics in the news that are pertinent to the LGBT community, share activities that are happening and share good news stories.
• Challenge heteronormative practices: Raise inclusion topics at work, change the language to demonstrate inclusive approaches,
• Be active: If you hear negative comments, challenge them, don’t be passive, be the voice of change to support colleagues, peers and pupils, every little helps.
• Socialise: Invite your LGBT friends to participate in social activities, with your friends and family.

1. Do you consider yourself an LGBT ally? Why or why not?
2. Do you know any LGBT allies in your community? What do you think drives them? Why are they championing this issue?
3. What obstacles do LGBT allies face? Is it difficult to be an ally in your community?
4. What would it mean to be an ally in your institution, and/or in the schools you will be teaching in?
5. What steps could you take to become an ally today?

• Did you know about The Gay Games?
  The gay games is the world’s largest sporting, cultural and festive event.
  The Gay Games is an international event, and has been held every 4 years for more than 32 years. The Games promote diversity, inclusion and tolerance. The next event is in Hong Kong where the bid has been secured to host the Games in 2022.
  You might also be interested in the EuroGames. The EuroGames 2019 is the European equivalent and is being held in Rome between the 11-13th July 2019. These are wholly inclusive and open to everyone regardless of gender, age, race, gender identity or sexual orientation. Registrations are currently open for the event and are open to both athletes and volunteers. Click herefor more details.
  
  
• On the Buses: Here’s a great story!
  Dublin dads surprised their children by picking them up to take them to Dublin Pride on an amazing bus. The article shares the opinions of the dads supporting their children. One dad says “It’s probably a thing that I wouldn’t go to,” he continues, “but I think we shouldn’t be closed to ideas like that.”
  Read more and watch the film here.
  
  
• IDAHO Day: International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia
  You can read all about this fantastic day here, but in a nutshell, IDAHO day was first created in 2004 to draw attention to the discrimination experienced by LGBTI people all over the world. It is celebrated in more than 130 countries, including 37 where same-sex acts are still illegal. The date of May 17thwas chosen especially to mark the World Health Organisation’s decision to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder.
  
  
• Amazing Advocates
  There are amazing advocates out there, helping to educate people, challenging perceptions and supporting the LGBT community, of course you can be an advocate too but here’s some great people doing some great stuff that’s helping to change the world.

• The UK
  There’s a fabulous guy, Shaun Dellenty. Shaun is an independent education trainer & inspirational keynote/after dinner speaker who has been working to positively prevent LGBT+ and identity based prejudice in the UK education system and communities since 2009. Shaun is a nationally recognised lead on LGBT+ inclusion in schools in the UK, with particular experience in preventing homophobic bullying. You can read more about his work here and he’s just written a great bookto support teachers which is all about creating a whole school approach to inclusion.