What is an Ally?
LGBTQ Allies strive to make the culture of a campus more aware and accepting of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer individuals.
An Ally strives to...
- be a friend
- be a listener
- be open-minded
- have their own opinions
- be willing to talk
- recognize their personal boundaries
- join others with a common purpose
- believe that all persons regardless of age, sex, race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression should be treated with dignity and respect
- recognize when to refer an individual to additional resources
- confront their own prejudices
- engage in the process of developing a culture free of homophobia, transphobia and heterosexism
- recognize their mistakes, but not use them as an excuse for inaction
- be responsible for empowering their role in a community, particularly as it relates to responding to homophobia or transphobia
- recognize the legal powers and privileges that cisgender straight people have and which LGBTQ people are denied
- support the Ally program they are a part of
- commit themselves to personal growth in spite of the discomfort it may sometimes cause
