Recently I have been reflecting a lot about what it means to be good ally.
- How can I be the best ally possible to other marginalised groups?
- How can people be a good ally to me?
So I thought I would share a great article I read with you.
For me, being a good ally is about listening, providing support, maintaining consistency, and leveraging your power and privilege for the benefit of others. It can start with one action, but it cannot be a one-off action. Otherwise it feels like it’s more about serving your own interests than those of others.
I found performative allyship to be the worst… I have seen this in action recently with Pride. Supporting LGBTQ+ colleagues by wearing a rainbow lanyard is a step, but to be a true ally, you need to walk the talk. This means supporting your colleagues’ rights or speaking up if you hear a homophobic joke, for example.
