Empowering voices: Allie Ogle on LGBTQ+ Pride and rights

Allie Ogle, Enrollment Representative with Pearson Virtual Schools, spoke to myGwork about what it means to them to celebrate Pride. They also offer advice for people attending Pride for the first time, and look at what's next in the future of LGBTQ+ equality.

Hello! My name is Allie (they/them), and I am an Enrollment Representative with Pearson Virtual Schools. I work with parents and guardians to ensure our program is a good fit for their student(s) and household. We want our students to be successful in all that they do, so I work to ensure we can meet their educational needs. I am also an active member of our Spectrum Employee Resource Group for our LGBTQIA employees. We provide resources, educational content, and a safe discussion space for our queer employees and allies.

What does celebrating Pride mean to you?

Pride means living as oneself, as fully as possible. It’s a celebration of life and love, as well as a condemnation of oppression and white supremacy. It’s when we come together and lift each other up. We are here, have always been here, and will continue to persevere.

In your opinion, why is Pride significant and what impact does it have?

Pride is important because oftentimes, especially in smaller communities, queer folks feel alone and different. Pride is a way to come together and be with other queer or questioning folks for community, resources, and connection. It is a show of strength and love. It’s a reminder of a past we refuse to return to, the wins of now, and a hope of the future.

Looking ahead to next year, what do you hope will be accomplished in relation to LGBTQ+ rights and acceptance?

I’d love for the concept of more than two gender identities to not be such a hot-button topic and for us to be accepted for who we are rather than how we identify. Having our rights protected as such would be my pie-in-the-sky ideal, but progress takes time. Objectively, I’d like to see more states step up to protect LGBTQIA rights if we can’t get those protections on a national level. I’d like to see organizations and corporations not take a step back in supporting us but a step forward solidifying their support. I hope folks start holding space for us, letting us be who we are and not who they want us to be.

For those attending Pride for the first time, what advice would you offer to enhance their experience?

One’s first Pride is so exciting! It can also be a little overwhelming. It can help to decide ahead of time which events you would like to try to attend so that you aren’t overloading yourself. If you’re comfortable attending alone, that’s great! For those that aren’t, I would recommend finding someone who has gone to Pride before or is interested in the event to go with you. If going to an outdoor event, load up on SPF and water; I typically keep a frozen bottle of water in my bag to use to cool off quickly as well as a parasol or hat. Always make sure you have a little bit of spending money, there is always someone selling something fun. If safety is a concern, make sure you have some cash for a cab as well as a well-charged phone and let your emergency contacts know where you will be, who you’ll be with, and when you expect to be home.

How can we ensure that Pride is inclusive for everyone within the LGBTQ+ community?

Pride planning committees should partner with organizations or individuals from other communities to ensure events are accessible to everyone, especially parades and markets. Rarely have I attended an outdoor event that would be easily attended by someone in a wheelchair or other mobility device. Another idea is to reach out to different cultural groups to see what Pride means to them, how they celebrate, or what they would like to have incorporated in the local events and celebrations.