PRIDE AT WORK
ARE YOU A GOOD ALLY TO YOURSELF? And by “yourself,” I mean all the other letters in the acronym By Luis Augusto Nobre
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021
Dear reader, Allyship is something that I’ve been thinking about for a while, and I was considering the best format to express it. We might be overwhelmed with the current communication formats: emails, social media posts, SMS, TikTok dances.… So I decided to be a little bit old-fashioned and write a letter to you. I believe that we can connect on this subject and, together, explore how we can become better allies to all members of the LGBTQ2+ communities. I will touch on what I have learned so far in my journey, and I’m willing to learn with and from you about what we can do. It is pretty common to expect allyship from people who aren’t members of the LGBTQ2+ communities. I’ve been in many meetings and events where straight people say they are allies who support us. However, in many of those social interactions, I feel they are saying that without a strong commitment – it’s meaningless, like a statement that they aren’t including themselves in that discussion, that they will be more listeners, observers rather than social actors. Maybe you have experienced something similar or have the same feeling related to a relative, a friend or a co-worker. I could mention the difference between being a real ally and simply being someone who passively supports the changes to promote LGBTQ2+ inclusion. But this letter isn’t for them. This letter is addressed to you. I want to connect with you and see if you, who see yourself in the spectrum of the LGBTQ2+ acronym, are a true ally to those who are fighting the battles to win rights and spaces for all of us. This message is addressed to you who don’t 8
IN MAGAZINE
think that trans inclusion is important because trans folks don’t represent you. These words are for you who feel superior because of your gender identity, gender expression and sexual behaviour, and don’t see that you are reproducing misogyny and biases against our own communities. Yes, I am addressing this letter to you because we need you if we want to change the world. You are indispensable to live the changes that we want to make and create a better society for all of us, with a strong sense of belonging, equity and justice. It’s really important to have you and your understanding that we won’t live in a better world if some people from our LGBTQ2+ communities still face challenges and inequalities. You might consider yourself protected, but you have to remember that the rights and freedoms you enjoy today came about because many other folks have long been fighting for our rights and liberty. So, protection must include them, and it must include those who don’t know how to fight but nonetheless have the right to exist and be respected. Before advancing my ideas and giving some context, I thought about many topics to write about here and to share with you…but if I did all that, I would end up with a book, not a letter. That’s why I’m telling you I won’t explore all the letters in the acronym LGBTQ2+. I am choosing only three to start this conversation. The other letters can come in a future message, or you might explore them by yourself (and I hope for that). Take this letter as your starting point if you haven’t yet thought about being a better ally
