Being an Ally: World Book Day 2023

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There’s an impulsive desire to fix, to be the hero of the story, to swoop in and rescue and, for some, it also comes from a place of superiority and/or a desire to be forgiven. Allies recognize that though they’re not a member of the underinvested and oppressed communities they support, they make a concerted effort to better understand the struggle, every single day.

I was just so annoyed because there would be a really good statement, but then right after reading the statement, the highlighted quote would immediately follow. A well-known gay bar, Stonewall was a safe space for drag queens, trans folk and the LGTBQ community. Consider the context in which you want to apologize and how that might affect not only you but also the person receiving your apology. An even more comprehensive (though still not exhaustive) acronym is LGBTQQIP2SAA: lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, queer, intersex, pansexual, two-spirit (2S), androgynous, and asexual. We would encourage everyone who isn’t bi to be a bi ally, and everyone who isn’t trans to be a trans ally.If you’ve been invited to give a speech or presentation, ask if you can bring an expert colleague with you to the stage. Read on to discover new, free resources to help bring the excitement of World Book Day and the pleasure of reading to your classroom.

To recap: Being an ally doesn’t necessarily mean you fully understand what it feels like to be oppressed. Ask someone from an underrepresented group to be a co-author or collaborator on a proposal or conference submission.

Being an ally is not an easy thing for everyone to do and it is not something that you can just stand there and say “I’m an ally for race equality”. One day, Esteban sits next to her on the bench where she waits for her sister every day after school. A couple of years ago, I spoke with Emily, a college intern who told me about a one-on-one meeting with her mentor. Allies understand their role in collaboration with people whose lives are affected daily by systemic oppression.

The reality can be very different and truthfully, sometimes standing up against discrimination can be an intimidating experience. A quick caveat: Vocabulary is evolving rapidly in these areas, and definitions can often vary across communities and individuals! There has certainly been a surge in the sales of books on anti-racism, people have protested for more action on racial equality and there have been a number of notable TV programmes about black history.By stepping aside, Andrew made a bold statement in support of gender diversity on stage and championed Miranda at the same time. When I was in film school working with actors, one of my directing teachers taught us that you should always give an actor two to three pieces of specific positive feedback before providing negative or constructive feedback. Microaffirmations can help mitigate and disrupt the harmful effects of historical oppression, systemic inequity, cultural marginalization and personal biases.