As we approach Pride season, we wanted to share ways to help promote and cultivate queer joy. Whether you are part of the LGBTQIA2S+ community or an ally wanting to make the world a better place, read below on how to make a change and bring more queer joy into the world.
Create and Foster Inclusive Spaces
When people can be their authentic selves, they can shine. Schools, workplaces, homes, social groups, community groups, and any setting where people come together is an opportunity to create and build spaces that are more inclusive and celebratory of LGBTQ+ folks. Hanging pride flags, having gender-inclusive language, sharing pronouns are a few ways to show your support and let queer folks know that they are safe in this space. Giving space for folks to be their authentic selves allows queer people to blossom and grow to our full potential.
Empower Queerness Through Education
Queer history is beautiful, rich, and an amazing source to cultivate empowerment and learn about those who helped create the world the live in today. Indigenous cultures of America and around the world have celebrated gender diversity and have given us ways to live life outside of the gender binary. Ancient civilizations throughout history are full of queer relationships that prove that love is love, and that the biology of human gender identity and sexual orientation is diverse.
Social movements such as the Stonewall Riots, Compton Cafeteria Riots and others paved the way for modern LGBTQ+ activism and have inspired countless individuals and movements with their queer leadership, activism, and showing us how powerful our community is when we come together. Today, we create history as we continue this legacy of advocacy and furthering the rights and well-being of the LGBTQIA2S+ community.
Celebrate the Diversity of the Queer Community
The queer community is diverse, nuanced, and full of every color, shape, size, gender, and identity. Through celebrating our queer community, we highlight the resilience, creativity, and contributions that queer individuals have made to society, and continue making to help create a more beautiful and inclusive world for all, especially those who do not fit neatly into societal norms. Celebrating this diversity affirms the worth and dignity of each member of our community. Everyone in the queer community deserves a sense of belonging and acceptance that can allow queer individuals to thrive and live authentically.
Learn and Practice Allyship
There are many ways to be an ally and to give the LGBTQIA2S+ community your support, voice, and energy. Standing up against transphobia, homophobia, biphobia, and other forms of prejudice helps create a safer and more welcoming environment where queer individuals can live without fear. Being an ally also means actively listening to the lived experiences and the needs of queer folks, educating oneself on issues facing the queer community, and using one’s privilege and platform to advocate for LGBTQIA2S+ individuals, especially those that are most marginalized by society. Allies see the humanity and worth of all individuals and helps work towards creating a world where all queer folks can live with dignity, safety, equality, and respect.
Embrace Self-Acceptance
Every member of the queer community deserves to be their full self, regardless of what that looks like. Individuals are often raised having to hide or suppress parts of their queer identity. Being able to fully embrace oneself can be a pivotal step to self-confidence and empowerment. It also allows you to be a leader and show others how it can be done. Showing up as your authentic self every day in this world can inspire others to do the same, and to create a community and society where true queer self-acceptance is not just tolerated but celebrated and applauded.