5 Tips For Being An Ally When Your Job Is On The Line
This past school year, educators across the country were devastated to watch the "Don't Say Gay Bill" being passed in Florida and other similar anti-gay legislation being passed in other states. Our hearts break for the LGBTQ+ educators that can no longer openly discuss their beautiful families, the students who are not allowed to talk about their loving parents or the LGBTQ+ students who cannot be themselves in the one place they should feel safe, our classrooms and schools. As an ally, in these states you may feel helpless and fear of losing your job showing support to the LGBTQ+ community.
Here are 5 tips of things you can do as ally to support the LGBTQ+ community:
1. Show respect and acceptance to your LGBTQ+ students and families
No matter what the laws dictate, they cannot and will not impact the way you treat your students. You can control the love, respect and acceptance you show your students and their families. In your classroom, welcome your LGBTQ+ students and your students with LGBTQ+ families with an open heart and open arms. This is an incredibly scary and heartbreaking time for LGBTQ+ families, so ensure your classroom is a safe space.
Our youngest students are watching us. If you model acceptance and tolerance, your students will show each other acceptance and tolerance. If you model love and respect for everyone, your students will show love and respect. If you celebrate diversity, your students will celebrate each other's differences.
2. Write to your Congressman and VOTE
As allies, it is our time now to stand up and speak out in support of the LGBTQ+ community. You need to write to your delegates and say you strongly disagree with the Don’t Say Gay Bill. You need to tell them about the harm that these laws are causing the LGBTQ+ students, staff members, and families. When students do not feel welcome in our learning environments, they do not learn. These harmful laws are gravely impacting the mental health of the LGBTQ+ members. As an ally you need to write to your congressman and express your concerns on the harmful effects that these laws have on your students' academic success and mental health.
One of the most important things you can do is vote. Using your voice and voting for candidates that support the LGBTQ+ community & LGBTQ+ affirming legislation is a critical part of being an ally. Do your research before you go vote to truly understand the candidate’s stance on LGBTQ+ issues.
3. Social Media
On social media follow LGBTQ+ teachers and creators to hear their perspectives and stories. To truly be a culturally responsive educator, your Feed (or For You Page) should be full of diverse perspectives and stories. And as an ally, LGBTQ+ creators should be a part of that. But, it is not enough to simply follow them, take the time to listen to their stories and their perspectives. Share their content. Like and comment affirming comments on their posts. Let them know the teacher community supports them.
If an LGBTQ+ teachers sells teacher resources, buy their resources especially their resources on Pride Month & LGBTQ+ topics.
Most importantly whether your following on social media is big or small, it is vital to speak up, post that you support the LGBTQ+ community. While no one enjoys confrontation on social media, if you see something hateful it is important to rise up and say something. It cannot just be the members of the LGBTQ+ community fighting against the hate. We need to stand alongside them.
4. Buy from LGBTQ+ Small Businesses
As an ally, support and buy from LGBTQ+ small businesses. Buy books from LGBTQ+ authors. Supporting LGBTQ+ small business owners is a great way to support the LGBTQ+ community all year round but especially during Pride Month.
Here are some great LGBTQ+ small business to shop:
Show & Tell Oakland (Clothing/Home)
Coco & Breezy (sunglasses)
Telfar (purses/school bags)
Equator Coffees (Coffee Products)
LGBTQ+ Authors:
Jacqueline Woodson, the author of The Day You Begin & The Year We Learned to Fly
Christian Robinson, the author of You Matter & The Last Stop on Market Street
Karamo Brown, the author of I am Perfectly Designed and new book I am Okay to Feel
5. If you are a parent, creating a more loving world starts with you.
If you are a parent reading this article, it starts with you. Creating a more accepting and loving world starts with you. Creating a world in which all students and families feel welcome in school starts with you. We encourage you to read inclusive books, watch inclusive shows, teach them about LGBTQ+ influential figures and teach your children that love is love at a young age. Teach your children to be welcoming and accepting of everyone.
If you have LGBTQ+ parents at your school, ensure that they feel welcomed in the school and that they have a friend in you. If a LGBTQ+ parent has to speak to the school's administration on issues related to "The Don't Say Gay Bill" offer to go with them, they might be nervous to speak up.
Here are some inclusive books to read with your own children at home:
The Family Book
Love is Family
Uncle Bobby's Wedding
Inclusive Shows:
Blue's Clues Pride Episode
Sesame Street has a family episode
This is an incredibly challenging time to navigate for ally teachers in states who are passing anti-gay laws and we by no means have all of the answers nor do we want you to do anything that could cost you your job or worse. We leave you with this final advice, the one thing you can control is the respect and acceptance you show your students and their families. You can control if your students and their families feel welcome in your classroom. That is the most important thing you can do as an ally. For additional resources, check out The Human Rights Campaign, GLAAD, or the Trevor Project.
