The Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network (GLSEN) and its student clubs are celebrating October 15-21 as Ally Week. GLSEN says: “Ally Week is about identifying and supporting allies and asking them to sign the Ally Pledge to intervene in bullying and harassment throughout the school year.”
Students and clubs are encouraged to register for Ally Week in order to help GLSEN determine the total number of schools and students taking part. They can also download a number of free resources, including an Ally Action Resource Guide, Pledge Cards, and an Ally Week Sticker template, or purchase Ally buttons and magnets. Worth a look if you have kids old enough to participate in such activities.
In the spirit of the week, I’ll highlight a post by Abigail Garner on Coming Out As a Straight Ally—and Why It Matters. “Straight people typically have access to systems of power that queer people do not,” she writes. “That is what heterosexual privilege is. Queerly affiliated allies, then, can leverage heterosexual privilege for positive social change.” I should add, however, that Abigail, the straight daughter of gay dads, is clear that she doesn’t like being called an “ally” of the LGBT community herself, since she feels she is a part of it. It’s a subtle point, but an important one, which we, as LGBT parents, are well advised to consider.