7 Resources for Allies During Pride Month

Asma Rehman, LPC
Latest posts by Asma Rehman, LPC (see all)

In the United States, June is recognized as Pride Month. The history of Pride is much different than the way it looks today. While now we think of celebration and parades, Pride started through the Stonewall Riots that occurred in June of 1969. Stonewall is seen as the starting point of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. So every June, queer folks and their allies use this month to recognize and honor the impact that LGBTQ+ people have had on the world, as well as the history that came before.

Read: Honoring Queer Grief

Today we have a list of resources to help you on your journey to better queer allyship:

Gender Identity 101: The Definitive Guide To Discussing Gender:

“In a culture that is at the same time working to break gender norms (Jaden Smith being named the face of Louis Vuitton’s SS16 womenswear, Caitlyn Jenner, David Bowie, Janet Mock) and yet hold them captive (the backlash Smith received) we are diving into the ways in which we actually talk about gender in hopes of educating and evolving your discussions.”

The first of our resources is about gender identity. This written guide is there to walk you through what gender is, how we see markers of gender, and will further help you break down gender and understand the various aspects such as: 

  • Gender roles
  • Gender expression
  • Gender identity
  • And the social construct of ‘sex’

It’s a great guide for anyone looking to dive deeper into their understanding of gender to better support the trans and gender-nonconforming folks in their life. 

Read the whole thing here

white board that says in rainbow writing "hello my pronouns are ___/___" for allyship resources blogPronouns 101: Why They Matter and What To Do (and Not Do) If You Misgender Someone

This guide to pronouns is written in a personal, approachable way by someone who uses they/them/theirs pronouns. This personal experience helps the guide to illustrate exactly why pronouns matter and steps to take in various situations if someone is misgendered. There is also a brief breakdown on the difference between sex and gender identity if you’re still looking for more after our first resource! 

Read the whole thing here.

Gender Neutral Pronouns 101: Everything You’ve Always Wanted to Know

“From how to use them to their surprising history, here are answers to your most common questions about gender-neutral pronouns.”

This guide is specific to gender neutral pronouns, as they are the ones we’re least familiar with on a cultural level. It answers questions about the history of gender neutral pronouns, using gender neutral pronouns in speech and writing, how to ask for pronouns, and more. 

Read the whole thing here

Supporting Someone Who is Coming Out:

Coming out can be a scary prospect for a queer person. There is a lot of hate in the world, and unfortunately, LGBTQ+ folks have to deal with quite a lot of it. Queer folks face discrimination in the workplace, in the medical field, in housing, in education, and many other institutions in our society, not to mention the discrimination that comes directly from other people. LGBTQ+ have not always felt safe coming out, and it’s important to recognize why. Supporting someone as they come out can go a long way to making them feel safe and valued.

This is an old one of our blogs, giving you our top tips on how to support a loved one on their journey of coming out. 

Read the whole thing here.

Glossary of Terms:

A huge part of allyship is educating yourself–hence why we’re giving you resources today! But it’s okay to come into your allyship not knowing everything. No one is born knowing everything they need to know! This glossary of terms can help you orient yourself and better understand the information you’re getting when you hit a new term or identity you’re unfamiliar with. 

Find it here. 

rainbow pride flag waving over city for allyship resources blogYour Complete Guide to the History, Meaning and Future of Pride:

“After 50 years of Pride celebrations, these events have become so varied that you can usually find a way to celebrate that feels best to you, whether it’s the raucous jubilation of the NYC Pride parade, community forums at the LGBT Center in San Francisco, or the massive crowds that attend World Pride in a different city every two years. But how did the last half-century of Pride become what it is today, and what are the best ways to celebrate?”

Knowing the history of the struggle is important. Without knowing that, you can’t know how to move forward. Take some time this Pride to read about the history of the movement, and how that should be shaping the future. 

Read the whole thing here. 

Here’s what a Good Ally Looks Like:

The last of our resources is here to remind you that being an ally isn’t a passive thing! If you’re going to offer support, it needs to be tangible in some way. However, we don’t all know where to start. So check out this guide from Vox on what a good ally looks like. 

Read the whole thing here

Remember, being an ally is all about constantly learning, so don’t punish yourself for not knowing what you don’t know. The important thing is to stay curious, respectful, open-minded, and honor people’s boundaries. If you’re looking for more resources or ways to support the LGBTQ folks in your life, our counselors can help you come up with a plan that works for you and your situation. Get in touch today!

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