Often it is assumed that the only people who will stand up for a cause are those who are directly affected. But this isn't always the case. Just like a man might support women's reproductive health rights, a straight person might stand up for the rights of the gay community. Why is this? Some people just believe in gay rights and others come to view themselves as straight allies after a friend or relative comes out.
If you want to show your support there are plenty of ways to do so. In fact, in October there is even something called "ally week" where people who are straight allies to the gay community can show their support. Ally Week was started in 2005, and according to the organizers, it is designed to "celebrate Allies committed to ensuring safe and effective schools for all and to encourage students to take action."
But someone can be an ally all year long. Here is some information on being a straight ally, and some ways to do so.
Photo (c) Michael IlluchineOften it is assumed that the only people who will stand up for a cause are those who are directly affected. But this isn't always the case. Just like an American might protest human rights abuses abroad, a straight person might stand up for the rights of the gay community. This is called being a
straight ally...
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Image © yksinGay / Straight Alliances first emerged in the 1990s as a way for GLBT teens and their allies to connect, find support and provide education. Many high schools and colleges have GSA's. If your school doesn't, the GLSEN (the Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network) has lots of information on how you can start one...
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Image (c) StéfanGLSEN oversees Gay / Straight Alliances (GSAs), and sponsors the National Day of Silence, No Name Calling Week, and Ally Week. GLSEN also performs educator trainings and runs a website called ThinkB4YouSpeak which strives to fight anti-gay language in schools...
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Image (c) PFLAGOne of the first organizations for allies was Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, or PFLAG. This is a group founded in the 1970's by the mother of a young gay man. Since then, it has offered support and education to families and friends of GLBT individuals...
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Image (c) Day of SilenceThe Day of Silence is an annual event that aims to reflect the challenges that GLBT teens facer on a daily basis. Teachers and students who participate spend a day without speaking to highlight the fact that many people in the GLBT community are forced to remain silent about who they are. The Day of Silence is a good way for allies to show support...
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Image (c) Quil stock.xchngWhat can you do if your brother or sister comes out to you? What about if you have gay or lesbian parents? There are many ways to support GLBT family members. One of the biggest is to vocally defend your family member against any bullying...
Read moreIt's great when straight teens want to be GLBT allies, but that doesn't ever mean they should push gay friends to come out before they are ready. Here are some concrete ways you can show your support without crossing a friend's boundaries...
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Image (c) Kevin WinterCelebrities of lend their names to causes to drum up support or raise awareness about an issue and well-known figures like Anne Hathaway, Daniel Radcliffe and Cyndi Lauper have all been vocal about their support of GLBT issues...
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