Mathilde Lacombe

Being LGBTQ+ is more common than most people think. Even if you’re not queer or don’t have friends or acquaintances that might be part of the community, you likely have met a queer person before. Everyone is different, and that’s fine. If one of your friends recently came out as LGBTQ+ or perhaps have been friends with one for a while and would like to learn more about how to be a good ally, here we have some ideas that you might want to take into account to make that possible. 

Celebrating Your LGBTQ+ Friends and Being an Educated Ally

• Attend Pride Events or Parades 

Pride month is celebrated in June, but the celebration typically follows up until the first two weeks of July. It can be a fun idea to go with your friends during these parades. Even when not in season, there are tons of queer events that you might want to attend along with your friends, such as queer bars, drag queen shows, among many other options. These are LGBTQ+-friendly spaces. If this is your first time attending one, be sure to keep an open mind and just enjoy the moment. Attending the Philadelphia Pride bar crawl may also be a good idea if you’re in the area.

• Share or Hear Stories 

Being an active listener in LGBTQ+ spaces not only can be fun, but it can also keep you educated. The battle of queer people for their rights has come along with several interesting stories. This can be an especially fun activity if you have children, as not only will you be able to introduce them to the LGBTQ+ community in an appropriate and inclusive way, but you will also be able to have a good time yourself. You can, for instance, purchase LGBTQ+ books, and perhaps attend a drag queen story hour.

• Enjoy LGBTQ+-produced media 

The queer community has come a long way. It is far more common in the media nowadays, meaning that books are not the only way in which you can enjoy engaging and interesting content. There are tons of TV shows and movies that might help you have a glimpse at what LGBTQ+ culture is like or perhaps how people within the community might feel. Plus, it’s good entertainment since the stories are quite interesting.

Some good and wholesome recommendations may include live-action shows like “Heartstopper” or perhaps a movie like “Love, Simon.” If you like animation, The Owl House and Steven Universe are great options. These pieces of media explore what it is like to live as an LGBTQ+ individual from different angles. You might be able to learn a lot about how queer people function while also enjoying appealing stories with cunning characters.

• Volunteer

It can always be good to be involved with your community. If you would like to learn more about the LGBTQ+ community while also contributing to it and maybe making a few friends along the way, volunteer. You don’t have to be of legal age to volunteer. We recommend you do a bit of research on organizations for or by queer people in your area so that you can find out more about the potential volunteering opportunities they might be offering. Chances are that these groups may need a few extra hands, so you might be able to join queer groups and learn from them in person.

• Why not start something yourself?

 While it being LGBTQ+ has become far more common in today’s world, not all communities have queer-friendly spaces. It doesn’t matter whether you are of legal age or not – you can always start something that might help queer people be seen or be a part of something. You can, for example, start a club at school for a particular hobby or maybe a gay-straight alliance. A book club can be an excellent idea, too. You might have a lot in common with LGBTQ+ people, and if your community doesn’t have a space to meet these people, you can always start something so that everyone feels welcome and included.

The Bottom Line 

Being an LGBTQ+ ally doesn’t have to be all about researching and making it a school subject. You can also enjoy the company of queer people and learn from them in fun ways, celebrating their existence and learning more from them along the way. It doesn’t matter what you choose to do. Be sure to keep an open mind and be supportive and validating.