Six easy things you can do to become a better ally to fellow human beings

Someone close to you may have recently come out, or perhaps you’re just a little unsure about how to interact with queer people or want to get more involved with the community. Whatever the reason is, if you’re reading this, chances are you’re already heading in the right direction of allyship. Here are a few pointers to guide you through being a better ally of the LGBTQ+ community.

1/6 Unlearn Old Prejudices

One of the most important steps of allyship is admitting that you have made mistakes, whether it’s once believing that “being queer is unnatural” or that “it’s just a phase” for someone close to you. Be aware of your own prejudices and where they came from, in order to work your way back to debunking baseless assumptions. Once you realise that these claims hold no truth, you will also be more equipped to inform others against these biases as well.

2/6 Learn The Terms

Language matters more than you think. Therefore, learning things like what each label of LGBTQ+ represents and being able to distinguish the difference between sex, gender, and sexuality are crucial steps toward becoming a better ally. These new terms and ideologies can be overwhelming at first, but we all have to start somewhere, and we pick up words faster than we may realise. Four years ago, we didn’t even know what Covid or Omicron meant, but we learned about it because it’s important to us. Treat educating yourself on queerness with the same energy. 

3/6 Ask, Never Assume

One of the easiest ways to show respect towards LGBTQ+ people is to use gender-inclusive phrases and refer to someone by their preferred name or pronouns. Forget every stereotype you’ve seen on mainstream media, queer people do not dress, act, or appear in one particular way. Self-expression does not equate to someone’s gender or sexuality. Whenever you are unsure of how to address an individual, the rule of thumb is to ask before assuming. 

4/6 Diversify Your Media Consumption

The media you surround yourself with can influence the perspective you have towards a certain group. It’s important to step out of the heteronormative bubble from time to time and consume other media that come from authentic LGBTQ+ voices, especially those with intersectional identities. To kick start your journey, Koktail has also compiled a list of quality LGBTQ+ entertainment to enjoy: 

1. Queer Stand-Up Specials to Watch During Pride
2. 5 Underrated LGBTQ+ Series
3. Authentic Queer Representation if Film and Television 

5/6 Get Involved

There are so many issues regarding the LGBTQ+ community that need improvement. Just in Thailand, there’s an ongoing push for same-sex marriage, diverse and accurate representation in the media, and more. Being conflict-averse by nature is completely understandable, but standing by the sidelines and watching people disrespect others can do more harm than good. Show your solidarity by standing up for queer people (even when they aren’t around), and make sure you’re in a safe space while doing so.

6/6 Something To Keep In Mind

When it comes down to it, being queer is just a facet of someone’s identity and should not be the reason why they are misunderstood or discriminated against. Remember that it isn’t a queer person’s responsibility to educate the rest of the world and to treat every human being with the same respect you’d like to be shown.