We Asked the Queer Community for Their Favourite Real Life Examples of LGBTQ+ Allyship
Who you surround yourself with is everything when you’re queer. Friends can become like family, and the people you immediately go to for anything and lean on for everything. So, in honour of International Day of Friendship this week, we asked the LGBTQ+ community to share some of their favourite memories of true queer allyship and the times their chosen family felt like the real deal.
Five Real Life Examples of True Queer Allyship
“I’ve got a friend who is really good at calling out things when she sees or hears it. Anything from a mildly inappropriate joke to misgendering someone and she’ll draw attention to it - even when the person it’s about isn’t there.”
“One of my new work friends asked if I had a “partner”, without knowing I was queer. I always dread coming out in a new job - partly because everyone just assumes I’m straight - so it was really nice that she used such gender-neutral terminology from the start and didn’t assume “boyfriend.” It made it much less difficult to tell her I actually had a girlfriend!”
“At my first Manchester pride - when I self-identified as a lesbian and hadn’t yet kissed any woman - my very straight friend quite literally held my hand through the overwhelming crowds, then immediately let go as soon as we were safely in our desired spots so as not to cockblock me.”
“I remember when I went social dancing in a cis/het setting and my older friend danced with me in my preferred role - which I know was slightly out of her comfort zone. In my eyes, you can be defiant alone, but it takes 2+ people to have fun and show others what they're missing.”
“One time that really sticks out is when I was hanging out with a new friend from university and chatting about all my bad dates with men. He very openly said ‘well, what about girls?' without any judgement whatsoever. In that moment he pretty much helped me confirm my bisexuality and truly embrace my queerness… we then spent the night scrolling through girls on my Tinder.”
Ask The Founder: What Does True Queer Allyship Look Like?
Adam Holcroft, founder of Rainbow & Co , shares his thoughts on what it means to be a good LGBTQ+ ally:
“For me true LGBTQIA+ allyship shows itself when there's no queer people in the room. It's not enough to assume that your friendship with a queer person equates to you being their #1 Ally. You need to be standing up and fighting for queer liberation anytime you see or hear our rights being questioned.”
Further Resources About Good LGBTQ+ Allyship:
Being an LGBTQ+ Ally by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation
7 Ways You Can Be an LGBTQ+ Ally at Work by Stonewall
Guide to Being an Ally to Transgender and Nonbinary Young People by The Trevor Project
Tilly Brogan
Tilly is a queer Freelance Copywriter based in Manchester. She balances her time between working with LGBTQ+ organisations and women’s rights charities - and people watching in various Manchester cafes. She is also a proud lesbian. You can read more of her work here .
