How can allies of the GLBT community best serve this cause for justice?

[Mike 03]

Prop 8 and the pain it caused the GLBT community was my wake-up call, and I am sure tens of thousands of other people want to do whatever is necessary to gain equality for our GLBT friends, but don't necessarily know what is the best way to help. There are some obvious things, for sure, like donating to organizations like Lambda Legal that fight for equal rights in the courtroom, but does anyone have other suggestions on how allies of this fight can help this community obtain its objectives.

You have massive support, but some of us could benefit from advice about how we can best help.

[Smarmie Doofus]

1. Good question. I'd really appreciate it if non-glbt friends...

... would speak-up in everyday life, i.e. at work and school, etc.

Correct kids they hear using anti-gay lingo. ( This almost NEVER happens. I work in a school and adults are more or less *required* to do this. But they DON'T.)


I don't believe a lot of them are malicious or specifically anti-glbt. They just find the whole subject awkward and slightly embarrassing. So they remain silent. They change the subject.

Ergo: things remain *unchanged*; and THAT SUCKS.

MLK said something to effect of : When history is written it will record, not the evil actions of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people.

In other words: "speak the F up !"

You're in neither of the above categories, BTW. Thanks for that. We do appreciate people like you.... more than you realize , I'll bet.

[Mike 03]

2. Thank you. This is excellent advice.

I no longer tolerate any anti-GLBT speech around me. It is no longer "funny" or "acceptable" on any level. Slang and words that used to be amusing to me when I was a teenager are painful to hear now that friends of mine are in this community, and I will not accept people to speak about this community in disparaging ways.

Thank you for posting this. This is exactly the kind of advice I think can help people who want to help but are not sure how.

EDIT: I wish I could make amends for the years of stupidity when I didn't care enough and should have.

I was a stupid, ignorant fool, but I want you to know I have woken up. If I ever hurt anyone from hurtful speech, I am so sorry, and I will never ever repeat that negative pattern.

[cate94]

3. Thanks for caring.

Speaking up now really does make up for the mistakes you made in the past. It is wonderful that you care enough to want to help.