Three ways to help the LGBTQ+ community

By Sophie Song

We’ve all had that talk. Whether it was a lecture with your parents, casual talks with others or even a close friend coming out as a member, we’ve all interacted with the LGBTQ community in some way. Having said this, it’s surprising then that very little of this talk has focused around helping the community as a whole; How often do you speak to others about providing your support? Most people never do. Today, that changes. I’ll be providing you with three ways you can provide support to the LGBTQ community. There are, of course, many more ways to help. But these are just some of the basics. 

  1.  One great way to help is staying personally educated and informed about the community. Taking time to learn is essential for greater understanding. One can get more information, and have a better understanding of all the identities and labels within. To learn about the community and the events within, one could talk to and ask people in the community, and search it up or read about it. One major event is Pride Month, which is the month of June (BrainPop). Being informed about current events involving the LGBTQ+ community can also be useful, as one can know when to advocate for them. One way of advocating is donating to charities that help people in the LGBTQ+ community, like the Trevor Project or the Human Rights Campaign.

  2. Another way to help is be supportive of the people in the community. Lambda Legal states that one can do this by choosing to join clubs that support and attend events related to the LGBTQ+ community, and also choosing to support friends in the community when they come out, and when their gender identity or sexual/romantic orientation plays a part. Just being supportive and accepting people can help boost someone’s confidence, and can inspire one to find other ways to help. Your voice can make a huge difference in someone’s life.

  3. Speaking out against discrimination against people in the LGBTQ+ community helps a lot, but you also have to try to avoid being discriminatory. The Human Rights Campaign says stopping yourself from being accidentally discriminatory includes not making assumptions about someone’s identity, and not making jokes about it. If you spot discrimination, you can report it to an adult you trust.

There are many more ways that one can support the LGBTQ+ community. You could be doing much much more than what I’ve talked about today. Although other options can help just as much, these can be used as a starting point if one is stuck and doesn’t know how to help. Even if you aren’t part of the community, the smallest action can make the biggest difference. Thank you for being a good ally to the community. 

Young TruthRenaissance College