In honor of Pride Month, let’s talk about queerness! As a white cisgender heterosexual female, I often find it hard to relate to or understand the LGBTQ+ community. I do not always feel that I have the authority to interfere or express my opinions or speak on their behalf, and yet I need to be an ally. Despite living in an age of technology with constant access to social media, I never feel as though I know enough. It is clear, however, that education is of the utmost importance when it comes to being a good person and doing what is right, and that includes being able to sympathize with our fellow human beings.
I have friends who are non-binary or transgender or gay or bisexual or anything else that goes against the socially ingrained heteronormativity. I went to a private Catholic all-girls high school that treated them poorly, and those four years really opened my eyes to the injustices people like them face everyday. I am always learning more from my friends about their experiences, the truth of the world, and how they live their lives. I look at articles, blog posts, and websites to understand how I can help them and advocate for social, romantic, and gender freedom and inequality. It may not be much, but I do what I can to be a better ally.
If you are like me and cannot personally relate to the LGBTQ+ community but want to help, educate yourself. Talk to your friends—but do not expect them to know everything—and do your research. And most of all, celebrate Pride! After all, the Supreme Court recently ruled that an employer cannot fire an employee based on sexual orientation or gender identity. That is certainly a cause for cheer!