-KNOW Homo-

LGBTQ* ALLIES YOU SHOULD KNOW

EMMA GOLDMAN  (1869 – 1940)

“No daring is required to protest against a great injustice”

* Political Activist and Speech Writer

* Activist for Immigration Rights, Women’s Rights, Safety/Work Related Equality, Freedom of Speech, Atheism, Marriage, Free Love and Homosexuality

* Goldman was the FIRST woman to speak out for homosexual rights

From Goldman’s Writings:

During our walk in the Luxembourg I told the doctor of the indignation I had felt at the conviction of Oscar Wilde. I had pleaded his case against the miserable hypocrites who had sent him to his doom. “You!” the doctor exclaimed in astonishment, “why, you must have been a mere youngster then. How did you dare come out in public for Oscar Wilde in puritan America?” “Nonsense!” I replied; “no daring is required to protest against a great injustice.” The doctor smiled dubiously. “Injustice?” he repeated; “it wasn’t exactly that from the legal point of view, though it may have been from the psychological.” The rest of the afternoon we were engaged in a battle royal about inversion, perversion, and the question of sex variation. He had given much thought to the matter, but he was not free in his approach, and I suspected that he was somewhat scandalized that I, a young woman, should speak without reservations on such tabooed subjects.

LGBTQ* Tumblr Websites You Should Know

Soffa Support - Tumblr resource for significant others, friends, families, and allies of the trans* community. Questions, submissions, articles, insight, advice, and discussions about the trans* community are shared here with respect and consideration.

LGBTQ* Ally and Deviant Artist You Should Know

~Voltaira 

LGBTQ* Political Cartoons

(Supporters) Come Out, Come Out

LGBTQ* Stats, Studies and Education

THE NERDS ARE ON YOUR SIDE

(Student Attitudes and Statistics —

 From Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States)

A national survey of 2,804 American high school students 16 to 18 years of age with an “A” or “B” grade average found:

Nearly four out of five (78 percent) feel homosexuals should be permitted to enlist in the military.

Three out of four (74 percent) feel gays should be allowed to teach school.

More than three out of five high-achieving teens (62 percent) believe it is okay to have a gay Girl or Boy Scout Leader.

Two out of three (68 percent) believe gays should be able to coach youth sports.

More than half believe gays should be allowed to marry (54 percent) and to join the clergy (54 percent).

(Note: Studies done at beginning of 21st Century - It would be interesting to conduct the same studies now and view the increase.)

LGBTQ* Advice and Insight

Definition: Acceptance vs. Tolerance
Do you accept the lgbtq people you know or do you simply tolerate them? The two words are related, but there’s a big difference when it comes to how you interact with people  in the lgbtq community that you see, meet, or socialize with. 

Tolerating someone is choosing to be around them, but not fully embracing who they are. Acceptance, however, is showing a deeper level of understanding by treating them (a person of the lgbtq community) as an equal. 

But, I Have Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Pansexual, Intersex, Trans*, Questioning Friends
Usually when someone throws around the phrase “I have (gay) friends,” after joking about or ridiculing lgbtq people behind their backs, they simply tolerate people. Accepting a lgbtq people is done with respect for the individual and their community.

(from gaylife.about.com)

Transgender Day of Remembrance

November 20th, 2011

Today, as an ally, I am taking time to learn better methods of being a productive ally for the Trans* community. 

Basic Rights (of Oregon) has created a chart for Trans* allies. On the chart you will find common missteps often made (simply because we are all individuals who are learning to navigate language and respect) and how to notice, correct and educate yourself for the future. You can save/read the PDF for Common Missteps of Trans* Allies here.

If you’d like more information, check in with your local PFLAG, SOFFA, friendly neighborhood Trans* moderated Tumblr sites (Transgender in Boots, Art of Transliness, FTMs of Color, The Self Made Men, Ryan Sallans and many others), local political outreach, or various other groups.

Remember, individually we are a voice but together we are a chorus.

LGBTQ* Pledges, Promises and Outreach

GLSEN’S ALLY PLEDGE

LGBTQ* Outreach, Support and Allies

Rebecca: I am one of the lucky individuals in the LGBTQ* community who has a very supportive and loving family who embraces me. However, even saying this, I can tell you it wasn’t immediately easy and things were a bit rough in the beginning. Families, especially parents, have their own coming out process and find their own voice as we find ours. 

Most of the time, coming out involves a long process and infinite time which we use to develop strength, confidence and self-worth. We forget that when we are finally ready to share our truths, the people around us need time to adjust and take in the information. It isn’t that they don’t support and love us, it is that while we have spent so long figuring out what will make us happy we forget the ones that love us have pictured our happiness a different way for so long. In a certain way, we must grant them time to change the hopes and dreams they have given us over years (for it takes love to dream great things for people).

About a year after I came out to my mother, she attended a few PFLAG meetings at a chapter in Northern Louisiana. PFLAG has this unique way of introducing people who share a fabulous love - one that is not defined by conventional laws and culture.

Should you want more information for your family, check in with a local PFLAG chapter or check the PFLAG National Website.

Keep On Keeping On!

picture source: unknown