It’s June, and the rainbow dust is everywhere. Corporations have rainbowed their logos, and social media and dating platforms have largely shifted their focus to Pride. But if it’s all for a month, have we really evolved the way we think we have? While the symbolism of June as Pride Month isn’t lost, it’s essential to realise that Pride doesn’t function within the confines of a space, a specific time. It is as much the product of the inner workings of an individual as it is of society as a whole. Being an LGBTQ+ ally on Pride Month 2024 and beyond is a significant and needed step towards a better world.

June is Pride Month, celebrating and commemorating those who identify as LGBTQ+ community members, as well as their supporters and allies.  The first Pride march was held in New York City on June 28, 1970, to mark the one-year anniversary of Stonewall Uprising, a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States. It took 30 years for Pride Month to become official, in a 1999 proclamation from former US President Bill Clinton.

Kolkata Rainbow Pride Walk: First Pride march in India

Pride parades in India are vibrant affairs. Many people gather to express themselves and also offer support to the queer community. But the first pride march that was held in India was comparatively subdued yet impactful. It was on July 2, 1999, when Pawan Dhall, a Kolkata-based queer activist, along with 15 marchers (none of them women) participated in what was later called the first Pride Walk in the country. In 1999, homosexuality was still criminalised in the country and the marchers went for a ‘safe sounding’ term for the event, ‘Friendship Walk’ to avoid trouble.

Be a Responsible LGBTQ+ Ally

In 2018, homosexuality was decriminalised in India, and while we have come a long way, there is still far to go. But change starts small, first with and within the individual. This is your cue to be a responsible LGBTQ+ ally. There are two significant features in an ally: first is support towards equality and second is acceptance of someone for who they are, without regard for their sexual orientation or gender identity. Keeping that in mind, here are a few ways in which you can continue to be a LGBTQ+ ally, for all year-round.

  • Understanding The Pronouns

Accurate use of gender identity terms, including pronouns, is a crucial way to signal courtesy and acceptance. Just as we learnt about she/her and he/him, the lexicon has diversified to embrace identities across the spectrum.

  • Listen More

It is easy to assume that you understand the issues of the LGBTQ+ community because you have read about them. But there is much more that only lived experience can tell and educate us. So, be willing to learn and unlearn, which can come through active listening.

  • LGBTQ+, Beyond The Five Letters

LGBTQ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and others. The ‘plus’ sign represents other sexual identities, including asexual, pansexual and two-spirit. The first four letters of the acronym have been introduced since the 1990s, but in recent years, there has been an increased awareness of the need to be inclusive to offer better representation.

  • Call Out Phobic Behaviour

Whether in the name of a joke or extreme, if you see a phobic behaviour in your presence, step up and set the person straight. And no, you are not a superhero for doing it, but a responsible human.

  • Understand Your Privilege

If you are someone who was born cishet, you will likely don’t understand the challenges most queer people face on a daily basis. It is through constant learning, unlearning and re-learning that we can make allyship more than our Instagram stories.

  • Educate Yourself

Educating yourself is an ongoing process. Respectful questions are better than making assumptions about someone’s identity. Be open to new information, listen to diverse perspectives and continually challenge your own biases.

  • Accept That You Will Still Make a Mistake

Allyship still rests on the principle that your experience and understanding are secondary to the LGBTQ+ community you support. As you educate yourself, accept that you will still make mistakes. This is where the continuation of learning and unlearning takes place.

Being an LGBTQ+ ally is only the first and perhaps the most basic step. It is the point where the privileged begin to accept the unjust structures that lead to inequality, which also benefits them.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 05, 2024 03:30 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).