Listen to that expert. Respect their pronouns. Defend their right to exist safely. And when you make a mistake—as we all do—apologize briefly, correct yourself, and do better next time.
When you meet a transgender person or enter an LGBTQ+ space, you don’t need to know all the theory. You just need to accept one simple fact:
That is the heart of allyship, and it’s something every human can offer. If you are questioning your own gender identity, contact The Trevor Project (866-488-7386) or a local LGBTQ+ center. If you want to learn more, visit GLAAD’s Transgender Resource Page.
If you want to be an informed ally or simply a good neighbor, it helps to understand two key distinctions: and how LGBTQ+ culture functions as a whole.
In recent years, visibility of the LGBTQ+ community has grown significantly. However, visibility does not always equal understanding. For many people, the term “transgender” can feel abstract, or the nuances of “queer culture” might seem like an inside joke they’re not a part of.