Being an Ally: World Book Day 2023

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If someone is in any doubt, they should ask themselves: am I acting because it’s the right thing to do, to centre the needs of others, or am I doing this for myself, to feel better and make myself look good? Although Pride might seem like a month of parades and glitter these days, its origins are far from celebratory. The first Pride rally occurred a month after the Stonewall riots in 1969.

Armistice Day: A Collection of Remembrance - Spark Interest and Educate Children about Historical Moments Hello Yellow - 80 Books to Help Children Nurture Good Mental Health and Support With Anxiety and Wellbeing - Test Prep Insight's College Guide and Resources For LGBTQ Students: This guide covers all aspects of college life for LGBTQ students, including common challenges, tips for integrating into campus life, and perhaps most importantly, guidance from experts on navigating college relationships. A growing movement lobbies for dropping the rapidly growing acronym and replacing it with the umbrella term GSM, standing for “gender and sexual minorities.” Finally, something that is also really cool about this book is the inclusion of author suggested resources on the various topics discussed, practical suggestions such as phrasing examples for having difficult conversations and numerous reflection prompts! These could serve as discussion questions within a small group or in a classroom, essay topic ideas, or simply as things the reader can reflect upon in whatever way works best for them.

Being an active bystander

Denial that others’ experiences are different from your own: “I don’t mind when people step on my toes.” I’m a member of the Women’s CLUB of Silicon Valley, a nonprofit leadership incubator for women. Many of our events are open to guests, who come to hear the speakers and participate in our workshops. Most guests are women, so it stood out when a male guest started attending our events. I asked one of my friends who he was, and she told me he was a former colleague who wanted to better understand the challenges women face in the workplace. He spent many evenings at our events, listening and absorbing information about the issues we discussed so he could be a better ally.

Allies: Real Talk About Showing Up, Screwing Up, And Trying Again” by Shakirah Bourne and Dana Alison Levy is a welcome addition to the expanding space surrounding how to be an ally. Through the lens of 16 the different pieces numerous issues were explored. Things such as race, gender identity, disability. Each piece was told in an authentic way that posed important questions for readers to reflect upon. While it may be presented as a book for Young Adults, I think that it serves as a great introduction for teens (high school) and adults of all ages on what allyship is all about. Our Premier League Takeover Footy & Booky Quiz ran for a third consecutive year, and was hosted by top sports presenter Kelly Somers, along with Football School authors Alex Bellos and Ben Lyttleton. The quiz was aimed at pupils aged 8 to 12, and featured two rounds of questions (one football-themed, one reading-themed). You can still access all the footy fun by watching the quiz recording. just the start of a journey, to dive deeper into these issues and see how you can help and support. Still I think guides, texts, and collections like this are really great to have because no matter where you are in your understanding of privilege and being an ally it is great that awareness is there; and that you are trying to work on being a more informed and active member in fighting against white supremacy, while also learning how to do that without talking over people of color and the other voices you are trying to stand with. So overall I think this is a nice place to start but those who are wanting a more nuanced and layered text may want to look somewhere else. If you’re asked to keynote or serve in a similar public role and know someone from an underrepresented group who’d be an equally good fit (or better), recommend that person (after asking them first if they’d like to be put forward).

Because we can think more clearly about stepping on someone’s literal toes than we usually do when it comes to oppression, the problems with many common responses are obvious: There are no easy answers, but this book helps you ask better questions. Because we're all in this together. And we all need allies. It’s Pronounced Metrosexual’s Comprehensive List of LGBTQ+ Vocabulary Definitions (the most comprehensive list!) I appreciated the fact that one of the first pieces emphasized that it’s ok “start small” - that being an ally doesn’t mean you HAVE to attend large rallies or protests or completely change up your routine. It is more about noticing the little things you can do in your everyday life to be there for others. Another piece talked about how being an ally sometimes means *not* doing something - not speaking for others. Instead, it’s about giving people the space to share their experiences. Their stories. Ask someone from an underrepresented group to be a co-author or collaborator on a proposal or conference submission.

Because an ally might have more privilege and recognizes said privilege, they are powerful voices alongside oppressed ones. I think personally I would have found the book even more interesting if there had been a story or two from someone closer to my own age. Not that I can’t learn from someone younger than me, but the views of someone in their 40s or older would provide an even broader perspective and reach a wider audience. A LGBTQ+ person should always have control over who they come out to and how they do it. Do not assume that because someone is out to you, they are out to everybody. You should never out a person to others. an ally has to do constant self-interrogation because it's hard to correct a bias that you don't know exists." (pg. 101)For me, being an ally is one the best parts of my job, not because I’m the head of diversity and inclusion, but because I believe that everyone should be able to bring their whole selves to work.

These authors share their truths. They invite you to think about your own experiences and choices and how to be a better ally. In 2023, World Book Day took place on Thursday 2 March and the emphasis was on making it YOUR World Book Day. Since it was first celebrated in the UK and Ireland over 25 years ago, the day has grown to become an essential calendar fixture for schools, settings and communities. It provides a fantastic opportunity to focus on reading for pleasure, supporting children's autonomy in book choice, and embedding a habit of reading that brings a wide range of benefits. Consider the context in which you want to apologize and how that might affect not only you but also the person receiving your apology. Melinda Briana Epler has over 25 years of experience developing business innovation and inclusion strategies for startups, Fortune 500 companies and global NGOs. As CEO of Change Catalyst, she works with the tech industry to solve diversity and inclusion issues. Her popular TED talk “3 Ways to Be a Better Ally in the Workplace” reached one million views in the first 24 days of its release. She is also host of the popular podcast series “Leading with Empathy and Allyship.”Today, Pride events commemorate the history of the LGBTQIA social movement and mark an opportunity for the community to come together. Celebration is a big part of it, but it’s key to remember the activism and bravery that started it all. OK, so what exactly is LGBTQIA? If you’re a manager, hold regular “office hours” encouraging all of your team members to speak with you about issues that are troubling them. So, getting educated, asking those difficult questions when you don't know the answer and going outside of your comfort zone are equally as important. A great ally is one who is informed and is continually updating their knowledge. 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. Here’s a more detailed explanation: