By Mason J. Dunn, JD
The June 2024 Pride celebrations are firmly behind us, along with the difficult experience with allyship that I discussed here in Part 1 of this article. Now is the time to reflect, and consider actionable ways the legal community might move the needle from performative allyship to something deeper and meaningful, especially in today’s frightening anti-LGBTQ+ political climate. This article provides practical ideas and includes helpful resources.
Educate Ourselves and Others
Education, and having curiosity about identities and communities that may not be our own, are some of the primary steps of allyship. Continuing that education, unlearning bias, and recognizing that there is always more to learn, are the next steps. There are many ways to continue that education: from reading new books (fiction or nonfiction) that illuminate new perspectives in these communities, to exploring the wide world of LGBTQ+ and intersectional podcasts, to even seeking out educational seminars and conferences on topics most relevant to you, or your legal practice. Check out the list at the end of this article to get you started!
Thinking about how we can progress and grow our active allyship, we can consider ways to bring education to others in our work and lives. Advocating for workplace inclusivity trainings, for instance, or bringing topics of awareness and education to our faith or school communities can all be ways we can actively work to confront and disrupt bias in the world around us. Sharing, as Mr. Rogers taught us, is how we show we care.
Be Informed
Beyond just educating ourselves about LGBTQ+ communities, we should strive to stay informed about the legal and political reality facing these communities, and how that landscape continues to change. In some ways, much has evolved towards legal and political inclusion for LGBTQ+ communities; and in other ways, rights and equity have regressed, creating a climate of intolerance, bias, and violence.
Particularly in a legal context, we must be aware of how LGBTQ+ rights impact our work. In many areas, such as employment and discrimination, family creation, or First Amendment rights, it is abundantly clear how LGBTQ+ communities are impacted. However, some more nuanced considerations and areas can arise for LGBTQ+ clients or communities.
Consider this:
John Smith, a father of three children, dies. His will evenly divides his estate among his three children. One of the children, Alex Smith, is a transgender man, and legally changed his name and gender marker over ten years ago. John’s will only lists Alex’s former name (also known as a “deadname”) as a beneficiary. When Alex came out and changed his name, his father said he was “disowned” although it is not reflected in the will or in writing: John simply stopped speaking to Alex. Alex’s siblings argue Alex is not a beneficiary. Alex argues he is a beneficiary, and offers the court-ordered name change decree as evidence.
This situation demonstrates how LGBTQ+ rights come up in unique ways across all areas of law. Even if it hasn’t come up in your practice yet, that doesn’t mean there aren’t ways LGBTQ+ rights impact your work, in any area of law or legal practice.
Be Active
So, you’ve educated yourself, and considered ways LGBTQ+ communities may come up in your area of law. Now, how do we now put that into action to break down structures of inequality and inequity in our world? There are many ways to turn our awareness into action for LGBTQ+ rights.
The Ballot Box, Including Local Efforts
The first and most important is taking our awareness to the ballot box. Elections have a profound impact on LGBTQ+ rights and equity, from school boards and town councils up to federal legislative offices. Smaller more local elections are often overlooked, yet in recent years are the most active battleground for human rights. School boards banning age-appropriate LGBTQ+ books, for instance, or town councils pressuring libraries to cancel LGBTQ+ events are all creating a climate of intolerance and bias at the local level. Knowing where our local policy makers stand on these issues is an important way to actively support these communities.
Supporting Community Activities
Showing up to support local LGBTQ+ communities outside the ballot box can also be a powerful way to flex our allyship. Whether participating in Pride Month activities, like accepting an invitation to march with memorials discussed in my first post, or attending events throughout the year such as Drag Queen Story Hour events at a local library. These events are great opportunities for allies to show up, learn more, and actively support local LGBTQ+ communities. You may even check out your local LGBTQ+ bar association for more information about events, activities, or social gatherings: https://lgbtqbar.org/programs/bar-affiliates/
Financial Support for Local Groups
Lastly, where we have the capacity, donating to local LGBTQ+ organizations and community groups can be a powerful way to show up as allies. It’s best to consider local grassroots groups, whether state-based advocacy, youth empowerment, or healthcare-focused organizations. Financial support from allies can keep the work of these small local organizations going.
Conclusion
There are dozens of ways to take our allyship to new levels, beyond the ideas listed here. But these are some easy ways to take concrete action steps to support LGBTQ+ communities. Remember, allyship should be an endeavor all year round, not just during Pride Month.
Allyship Educational Resources:
Gayish Podcast: https://www.gayishpodcast.com/
Allyship is a Verb Podcast: https://www.allyshipisaverb.com/
“The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson” (Film, 2017)
“Disclosure” (Film, 2020)
“Tomorrow Will Be Different” by Sarah McBride
“Beyond the Gender Binary” Alok Vaid-Menon
“Transgender Inclusion: All the Things You Want to Ask Your Transgender Coworker but Shouldn’t” A. C. Fowlkes
“The Savvy Ally: A Guide for Becoming a Skilled LGBTQ+ Advocate” Jeannie Gainsburg
Mason (he/they) serves as the Director of Education and Research with the Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce. A lawyer and educator, Mason brings over 15 years of LGBTQ+ advocacy experience to the Chamber. Before joining the team, they served as Deputy Director for the Division of Education and Training at the Fenway Institute, Director of Advocacy for Keshet, State and Local Policy Manager for GLSEN, and Executive Director of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition. In 2018 Mason co-chaired the historic Yes on 3 campaign which successfully defended the Massachusetts trans-inclusive public accommodations nondiscrimination law, in the nation’s first-ever state-wide vote on transgender rights.