9 Ways You Can Support LGBTQ Rights in 2023
The number of people in the United States who identify as part of the LGBTQ community has risen to 7.1%. That is almost 1/10 of our population.
That means if you are not understanding of the community and do not know how to support LGBTQ rights, you are excluding a large part of the population.
What kind of world is that? It is definitely not full of love, community, or support, that is for sure.
The good news is that there are different ways to support LGBTQ rights that you can start today. Ready to learn how to support LGBTQ rights right now? Keep reading this guide to learn!
1. Respect Pronouns
If you are cisgender, then you are lucky to identify with the pronouns that you were given at birth. However, the LGBTQ+ Community is not always able to identify with the same pronouns.
If you want to be an ally and support LGBTQ rights, it is important that you always respect pronouns. This allows those who are transgender, non-binary, and gender nonconforming people to be open about who they are.
To do this, you can simply ask what pronouns they prefer to not make an assumption.
2. Research
It is not the job of those who identify in the LGBTQ community to educate you on everything you should know. It is your job to do your own research on terms, concepts, news, history, and legal processes to understand more about the community.
To do this, you can spend time reading articles, watching documentaries, watching movies and TV shows, and listening to podcasts. All you have to do is a quick Google search.
3. Be Active
It is one thing to say you are an ally. It's another thing to show that you are an ally.
This means that you are willing to consistently show up and support the LGBTQ community and advocate for their rights. You are constantly speaking out against discrimination and being an activist for them.
If you are in a privileged position, it is your job to use that privilege to support a community that is not as privileged and does not have as many rights.
4. Never Make Assumptions
You know what they say about making assumptions…
When you are fighting for someone's rights, the last thing you want to do is make an assumption. This is especially important if you are not sure and do not want to hurt anyone's feelings. The best thing you can do is simply ask.
This also means that you should be careful with your words. If someone states that their partner is going to dinner with them, it is best to use the pronoun "their" rather than assuming their gender.
5. Speak Out
Although you know it is important to take action to show your support for LGBTQ rights, you also need to speak out when no one is looking.
For instance, if you are with a coworker and they say something that you know it's not right, you have a choice. You can either walk away without saying something or even laugh along with them, or you can tell them that you do not support how they are talking.
When you start to speak out, you will start to make a difference and plant seeds for a change.
6. Own Your Mistakes
No one is perfect. However, with that said, if you do make a mistake, it is important to own it. Rather than pretending something doesn't happen, understanding that you made a mistake is where growth starts to occur.
This allows you to receive feedback and move forward instead of being defensive about what just happened. All you have to do is apologize and do better in the future.
7. Learn the Lingo
One of the most important things to learn to be an ally and support LGBTQ rights in 2023 is to learn the lingo. You need to understand what you should say and what you should not say, as language speaks.
To learn the lingo, the best thing you can do is research to learn more and understand. There are books out there that can help you learn the right language to use.
8. Reflect
We all have our own biases even if we do not realize it. Knowing that you have biases is one thing, but reflecting to understand where they come from and how to change your mindset about these biases is some of the most important work that you need to do.
9. Be Inclusive
Last but not least, the best thing that you can do is to be inclusive of everyone. If you're having a party or a gathering, be sure to include everyone despite their gender or sexual orientation.
It is also best to convince other people to be inclusive as well and explain the importance behind doing it.
Support LGBTQ Rights
If you don't think that you have a large part in supporting LGBTQ rights in 2023, you could not be more wrong. There are so many things that you can do to show your support for the LGBTQ community.
By following the steps, you will set yourself apart as an ally in the community. Just be sure to do your own research and reflect on your own values to really see the growth that you want to see.
To create a more inclusive community, you can check out our clothing apparel to spread more love on a daily basis.