Why Allies Are An Important Part of the LGBT+ Community

Allies are an imperative part of any minority’s struggle. Without their support it would be nearly impossible to secure our rights and safeguard our future. They can act as a bridge between communities, by attempting to understand the struggles of one minority and expressing the need for change to the majority. Nothing can truly be accomplished in any form of society until the need for change is acknowledged by most of the people.

Lisa Power, one of the founders of the LGBT+ advocacy group Stonewall, notes that when they started their organisation they mistakenly thought they could tackle homophobia on their own, without the support of straight allies. They quickly saw how futile the fight was without that allyship when fighting Margaret Thatcher’s 1988 lawbanning the “promotion of homosexuality” in schools.

Matthew Todd, writing for the Guardian, argues that straight allies were vital in turning the tides of social progress throughout the latter half of the twentieth century. “It’s clear LGBT people making their voices heard made the biggest impact on the progression of equality, but straight allies were crucial, too.”

“It’s clear LGBT people making their voices heard made the biggest impact on the progression of equality, but straight allies were crucial, too.”

Straight allies are still crucial in the fight today, as well. US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand frequently sticks her neck out for LGBT+ rights, recently rebuking the President’s proposed transgender ban. Gillibrand wrote: “This morning transgender service members put on their uniform and showed up for their military duties to be told by their Commander in Chief via Twitter that he doesn’t want them in ‘any capacity’. These service members are willing to die for their country, and this is an insult to their brave and honourable service.”

While other politicians, like presidential hopeful Cory Booker, helped push for marriage equality and anti-discrimination laws. Booker has even refused to clarify his sexual orientation until recently, saying in 2013 he wanted to “challenge people on their homophobia.”

Outside of the political arena, straight allies are vital in the work place too.

“Straight people have a critical role to play in creating gay-friendly workplaces,” writes Stonewall. “Their involvement – often precisely because they’re not gay themselves – can have a transformative effect on the culture of an organisation and the workplace experience of staff, both gay and straight.”

“Straight people have a critical role to play in creating gay-friendly workplaces,”

In a discussion with the LGBT bar, Rick Richardson of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Adeel Mangi of Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP talked about why it was so important to be seen as allies to the LGBT+ community.

“Straight and cisgender allies can speak hard truths to the straight and cisgender community without the perceived agenda that is sometimes attributed to the same message when it comes from a member of the LGBT community,” Richardson said.

While Mangi pointed out the importance of acknowledging intersectionality, how the LGBT+ community comprises of women, people of colour, people of different religious and ethnic backgrounds, that all of these marginalised groups are stronger if they ally together.

“I’m a Muslim. In my view, the Muslim and LGBT communities are natural allies,” Mangi said. “Many in our community are strong supporters of LGBT rights. For example, the Muslim Bar Association of New York was the only religious bar association to endorse marriage equality legislation in New York all the way back in 2011.

“I’m a Muslim. In my view, the Muslim and LGBT communities are natural allies.”

“No embattled minority community should be standing alone today. The issues at stake are too fundamental for our country and our identity as a nation. Only by speaking with one voice can we protect each other.”

Straight allies are a vital part of the LGBT+ community, they can be our siblings, our parents, our friends, our co-workers. They can help us politically, by shifting laws and changing minds, or more locally by helping us set up allyship programs at work or simply reaching out as a friend. It’s important to acknowledge their place in our community and to encourage allyships to continue.

Here are some notable LGBT+ allies from past and present:

Elizabeth Taylor

She used her considerable platform to speak about the AIDS crises, even when no one else was. She worked tirelessly to raise millions of dollars for AmFAR, AIDS Project Los Angeles, and the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foudnation. She once said: "I hope with all of my heart that in some way I have made a difference in the lives of people with AIDS. I want that to be my legacy better that than for the mole on my cheek."

Anna Wintour

The iconic Vogue director has used her role to not only support LGBT+ artists, but her work with 'Seventh on Sale' in the '90s brought the New York fashion community together to raise money to fight AIDS.

Barrack Obama

The former president was the first to acknowledge transgender people in his state of the union speech, and his candid 2012 interview in which he said he supported same-sex marriage help lead the groundswell towards equality.

Lady Gaga

A long-time outspoken advocate for LGBT+ rights, the famous singer gave a rousing speech at a 2009 rally for same-sex marriage in which she said: "We must demand full equality for all," she said. "They say this country is free and they say this country is equal, but it is not equal if it's sometimes." She has always attributed her great success to the community.

Hillary Clinton

Clintin’s 2011 "gay rights are human rights" speech, delivered to the UN, was the first time the US had taken such a strong stance on LGBT+ rights on such an international stage.

Prince William

Perhaps the most popular Windsor, the Prince was the first member of the royal family to ever appear on a gay magazine: gracing the cover of Attitude in 2015 to speak out against discrimination and bullying.

Stonewall has published a handy guide on the simple steps it takes to be a good LGBT+ ally, have a read here.

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