Allies
What is an Ally?
An ally is a person who takes a stand against oppression, works to eliminate oppressive attitudes and beliefs in themselves and their communities, and works to interrogate and understand their privilege. There are many different ways to be an ally to LGBTQPIA+ people and numerous opportunities to become involved with the community at Loyola University Maryland.
How Can I Be an Ally?
Being an ally requires active participation rather than passive presence. Allies are encouraged to attend LGBTQ+ Student Services, Spectrum, and The LGBTQ+ Experience events to learn more about identities and issues related to LGBTQPIA+ communities. Students and employees are also encouraged to complete Safe Zone training, offered every semester.
Being an Active Ally
You can also be a strong and active ally in your everyday life. Here are some best practices and suggestions:
Address Bias & Discrimination
- Provide correct information when you hear myths and misperceptions about LGBTQPIA+ people.
- Interrupt, confront, or react to homophobic and transphobic jokes, slurs, comments, or assumptions. This can be done privately or publicly.
- Provide support to LGBTQPIA+ individuals who are targeted or subjects of heterosexist, homophobic/biphobic/transphobic jokes, slurs, comments, or assumptions. This can be done publicly or privately.
- Submit a bias report if you hear or witness heterosexist, homophobic/biphobic/transphobic jokes, slurs, comments, or actions to support the creation of a more inclusive and safe campus environment.
Advocate & Demonstrate Support
- Critically consider media presentations of LGBTQPIA+ issues and call, email, or write the appropriate parties with complaints, suggestions, or praise.
- Research local, state, and federal policies that protect or harm members of the LGBTQPIA+ community and contact your legislators to share concerns or thank them for their work in relation to the policy.
- Advocate and vote for LGBTQPIA+ representation in public office, private and religious institutions.
- Advocate and vote pro-LGBTQPIA+ public legislation and institutional policies.
- Recruit LGBTQPIA+ students, staff, faculty, and administrators to join our Loyola community.
- Remember that there are always people in your residence halls, classes, clubs, and jobs who are LGBTQPIA+, whether you know it or not.
- Recognize that closeted people in your halls, classes, clubs, and jobs are assessing how safe that environment is for them.
- Don't “out” people unless given permission to do so.
- Talk with friends informally and openly about LGBTQPIA+ events or issues in the news, on TV shows, and in movies.
- Say the words gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and asexual out loud!
- When talking about relationships, use inclusive language like “partner” or “date”.
- Sign a petition.
- Post an ally sticker on your whiteboard, in your room, or next to your door.
- Wear an ally or pride button on your backpack/bag.
Learn & Grow in Understanding
- Complete Loyola’s Safe Zone training.
- Become familiar with the work of LGBTQ+ Student Services and it’s support and programming.
- Risk discomfort and take risks to learn and grow as a person.
- Take a class centered on the LGBTQPIA+ community.
- Don't make assumptions and ask about things you don't understand.
- Talk with and learn from LGBTQPIA+ friends, classmates, and colleagues.
- Understand how heterosexism and homophobia affect both LGBTQPIA+ people and straight and cisgender people.
- Understand your own feelings around LGBTQPIA+ issues.
- Understand your socialization, prejudices, and privileges.
- Understand why you feel it is important to be an active ally.
- Learn about LGBTQPIA+ pride symbols, signs, and history.
- Read LGBTQPIA+ newspapers, magazines, and books.
- Watch LGBTQPIA+-themed movies or TV shows.
Participate & Engage
- Become a member of Loyola’s student organizations, Spectrum and The LGBTQ+ Experience.
- Attend LGBTQPIA+ events, meetings, and programs on campus.
- Attend Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigil (November) and Sexuality and Gender Diversity Awareness Week (SAGDAW) events (April).
- Have clubs that you belong to sponsor or co-sponsor LGBTQPIA+ or LGBTQPIA+-friendly activities or events.
- Go to Pride events in Baltimore and/or your home community, typically held during the month of June.
- Visit the Pride Resource Room (3rd Floor Student Center).
This information was adapted from .