AGLBICAL
 

ALLIES &
ADVOCATES


 

HOME

MISSION

NEWS

INFORMATION

RESOURCES

LINKS
 

ADDITIONAL
RESOURCES

National GLBT
Organizations and
National GLBT
Religious Organizations

National & International
Gay & Lesbian
Organizations &
Publications

2008 HRC
Buyer's Guide
 

LINKS TO
GLBT SUPPORT
PROGRAMS

Univ Ala Bham
Safe Zone

Univ Ala Bham
Gay Straight
Student Alliance

Univ of Florida
Friends

Penn State Altoona
Gay Straight Alliance

Natl Consortium
of LGBT Directors
List of Safe Zone
Ally Programs

Natl Consortium
of LGBT Directors
List of LGBT
Centers & Programs

Natl Consortium
of LGBT Directors
Info on Starting
LGBT Ally Program

Hetrick-Martin Institute
 

MORE LINKS

GLAAD:
Ally Resources

Campus Pride

Univ Missouri-Columbia:
LGBT Resource Center

Univ North Texas:
Ally Program

Univ North Texas:
Ally Program
(Report)

Nal Center for
Lesbian Rights:
Resources

Penn State:
LGBTA Student
Resource Center

Lambda Legal:
Be A Workplace Ally

Born Different
 

BEING AN ALLY OR ADVOCATE

Beyond Tolerance:  Moving Toward Understanding, Appreciation, and Celebration

Actively participating.  This stage of response includes actions that directly support lesbian/gay and gender presentation oppression.  These actions include laughing at or telling jokes that put down GLBT people, making fun of people who don’t fit the traditional stereotypes of what is masculine or feminine, discouraging others and avoiding personal behavior that is not sex-stereotyped, and engaging in verbal or physical harassment of lesbians, gays, or heterosexuals who do not conform to traditional sex-role behavior.  It also includes working for anti-gay legislation. 

Denying or ignoring.  This stage of response includes inaction that supports lesbian, gay, or bisexual, or gender presentation oppression coupled with an unwillingness or inability to understand the effects of homophobic and heterosexist actions.  This stage is characterized by a “business as usual” attitude.  Though responses in this stage are not actively and directly homophobic or heterosexist, the passive acceptance of these actions by others serves to support the system of oppression.

Recognizing, but no action.  This stage of response is characterized by a recognition of homophobic or heterosexist actions and the harmful effects of these actions.  However, this recognition does not result in the action to interrupt the homophobic or heterosexist situation.  Taking action is prevented by homophobia or a lack of knowledge about specific actions to take.  This stage of response is accompanied by discomfort due to the lack of congruence between recognizing homophobia or heterosexism yet failing to act on this recognition.  An example of this stage of response is a person hearing a friend tell a “queer joke”, recognizing that is homophobic, not laughing at the joke, but saying nothing to the friend about the joke. 

Recognizing and interrupting.  This stage of response includes not only recognizing homophobic and heterosexist actions, but also taking action to stop them.  Though the response goes no further than stopping, this stage is often an important transition from passively accepting homophobic or heterosexist actions to actively choosing antihomophobic and anti-heterosexist actions.  In this stage a person hearing a “queer joke” would not laugh and would tell the joke teller that jokes that put down any minority, including gays, are not funny.  Another example would be a person who realized that s/he is avoiding an activity because others might think s/he is lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender if s/he participates in it, and then decides to participate.

Educating self.  This stage of response includes taking action to learn more about GLBT people, heterosexism and homophobia.  These actions can include reading books attending workshops, talking to others, joining organizations, and listening to lesbian or gay music, or any other actions that can increase awareness and knowledge.  This stage is also a prerequisite for the last three stages.  All three involve interactions with others about homophobia and heterosexism.  In order to do this confidently and comfortably, people need to first learn more.

Questioning and Dialoguing.  This stage of response is an attempt to begin educating others about homophobia and heterosexism.  These stages go beyond interrupting homophobic and heterosexist interactions to engage people in dialogue about these issues.  Through the use of questions, and dialogue, this response attempts to help others increase their awareness of and knowledge about homophobia and heterosexism.

Supporting and Encouraging.  This stage of response includes actions that support and encourage the anti-homophobic and anti-heterosexist actions of others.  Overcoming the homophobia that keeps people from interrupting this form of oppression even when they are offended by it is difficult.  Supporting and encouraging others who are able to take this risk is an important part of reinforcing anti-homophobic and anti-heterosexist behavior.

Initiating and Preventing.  This stage of response includes actions that actively anticipate and identify homophobic institutionalized practices or individual actions and work to change them. Examples include teachers changing a “Family Life” curriculum that is homophobic or heterosexist, or counselors’ inviting a speaker to come and discuss how homophobia can affect counselor-client interactions.

Safe Zone Resource Guide, Florida State University.  (Model originally developed by James Washington, 1991)

TIPS FROM GLAAD
10 Ways to Be an Ally or Friend

1. Be a listener.

2. Be open-minded.

3. Be willing to talk.

4. Be inclusive and invite LGBT friends to hang out with your friends and family.

5. Don't assume that all your friends and co-workers are straight. Someone close to you could be looking for support in their coming-out process. Not making assumptions will give them the space they need.

6. Homophobic comments and jokes are harmful. Let your friends, family and co-workers know that you find them offensive.

7. Confront your own prejudices and homophobia, even if it is uncomfortable to do so.

8. Defend your LGBT friends against discrimination.

9. Believe that all people, regardless of gender identity and sexual orientation, should be treated with dignity and respect.

10. If you see LGBT people being misrepresented in the media, contact us at glaad.org.

FIGHT FOR EQUAL RIGHTS
Top 10 Ways To Support GLBT Rights

From Ramon Johnson,
Your Guide to Gay Life
 

Here's how you can join the fight for gay equal rights:

1) Register To Vote!

The best way to tell our government how you feel is to vote! Be sure to update your address if you are registered to vote or sign up if you are not.

2) Sign a Petition for Same-Sex Marriage

Your single signature may at first seem irrelevant, but among millions change happens.

3) Write Your State Senator or Representative

Your State Senators and Representatives were elected by you and act on your behalf. Let them know how you feel.

4) Contact the White House

The Bush Administration opposes equal gay rights. Send letters supporting gay equality directly to our leader. Let's keep the upper hand by expressing our opinions with respect and professionalism.

5) Support Gay Schools

Help the Hetrick-Martin Institute alleviate queer youth from the perils of harassment and violence by contacting the New York City Department of Education or by providing funding to The Harvey Milk School.

6) Write the Church

A simple email to gay-friendly churches can go a long way towards the confirmation of gay clergymen.

7) Support the Servicemembers Legal Defense Fund

The SLDF needs your support as the leading advocate for gays in the military. Not only do they educate servicemembers on the current "don't ask, don't tell" policies, but they provide free legal advice.

8) Watch Gay Television Shows

Despite what your parents said, watching television is good for you- especially if you're gay! By watching gay-theme television shows you increase their ratings. Increased ratings make the high-power networks and advertisers very happy. Hopefully, happy enough that they can't afford not to have gay programming. Showing Americans gay life on television may also lessen the fear of gay equality.

9) Volunteer for a Gay Rights Organization

There are several organizations that help promote gay rights and safety. Find the one that best suits your lifestyle.

10) Lobby for Gay Adoption

The American Bar Association had recently agreed to endorse and lobby states for equal adoption rights for same-sex couples. Join the fight!