THE IMPORTANCE OF ALLYSHIP
Rethink and challenge non-inclusive options on forms and documents. Continue to educate yourself and others.
What is the difference between an Ally and an Advocate? Ally
As a community we’ve come so far locally, nationally and globally in regards to LGBT+ rights and protections. Here in Ireland in just 30 years (1992-2022) we’ve gone from a society where homosexual acts were criminalised and visibility of LGBT+ people was very rare, to a society that legalised equal rights for same-sex marriage by popular vote in 2015 and LGBT+ relationships as in daily life, are in almost every TV show. This is a massive feat that the people of Ireland should be very proud of accomplishing. However, this progress would not have been possible without the support of our allies and advocates. And it’s vital to remember that there’s still so much more we need to do. At present there have been far too many reports in the media and online of verbal, physical and strategic attacks on LGBT+ people and their rights nationally and globally. Ireland still lacks legislation around hate crime and conversion therapy. Legal protections for same-sex parent families are still not fully in place for parts of our community. Adequate and LGBT+ inclusive education in primary, secondary and third level educational institutions is yet to be introduced. And our trans, nonbinary and intersex peers face constant abuse in-person, online and over our radio airwaves. These issues will be hard to overcome without the support of allies and advocates.
by Konrad Im Here in Gay Project we work with gay, bisexual, men who have sex with men (MSM), trans and queer men to ensure that they are enabled to participate fully in Ireland’s social, economic, cultural, political and artistic life. We aim to do this by facilitating, supporting, and developing various projects, events and groups that meet regularly around Cork city. Some of these include our Queer Vibes social café, the GOLD group for older men, Drag School with Mia Gold, weekly drop in social spaces, yoga for men, online meditation, Outstaged Drama Group and supporting the various sports groups like Frontrunners, Hellhounds RFC, Cork Rebels FC, and Cork Racketeers Badminton. Each of these initiatives have been hugely successful in providing safe supportive spaces for its members/participants but wouldn’t be possible without the hard work and dedication of so many LGBT+ advocates and their allies.
Call and challenge your elected officials, parish priest and other leaders on discriminatory practices and policies. If they’re unwilling to change, choose to support a representative that aligns with your values. Work and support initiatives/campaigns to change equality legislation. Push for change in the curriculum within schools, colleges and other educational institutes. Push for all public and private workplaces to be more inclusive to all service users. Push for the Gardaí, jail and prison systems to be more inclusive. Share your skills with the community by offering to volunteer, host events, fundraisers, or to join their Boards. Push and challenge YOURSELF! Here in the Gay Project we’ll soon be expanding our work with an Allyship and Advocacy programme in collaboration with Cork City Council. In the coming months we will be developing an Ally and Advocate Network that aims to train our heterosexual peers in how
An ally is a person who is supportive of the LGBT+ community or that has friends, family, colleagues or even acquaintances who are part of the LGBT community and thus has a vested interest in supporting the community in any small way that they can. An ally is the person that wears the badges, flies the flags, uses the inclusive terminology, and speaks out when they see discrimination and injustice. Advocate An advocate is someone who goes that bit further and who is taking stronger action to make change for the LGBT+ community in a bigger cultural, economic, political or societal way. An advocate is the person that shows up for the protests or demonstrations, lobbies for LGBT+ rights or signing petitions that are in support of the community, challenges discriminatory practices in the at home and in workplace, and shares their experience/skills/talents on the Boards of LGBT+ organisations, and/or shares their platforms of privilege in providing spaces for LGBT+ people to highlight the issues they face. What steps can you take to be a stronger Ally/Advocate? Allies and advocates are both equally important for any community. Some ways you might consider being more active in your support for the LGBT+ community might be as follows. Support and speak out in support of LGBT+ people and their rights, at home, in work, in the pub and anywhere you hear discriminatory or harmful language. Think about how and why you use gendered or heteronormative language in a day to day basis. Consider and learn about policies affecting LGBT+ people in your workplace, college, school or in your children’s school.
to support and provide spaces for the LGBT+ people that might be struggling
in communities across Cork city and county. If you would like to get involved, please email Ally@gayproject.ie for further updates.
www.corkpride.com
#CorkPride2022
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