How to Be a Better Ally: A Wisconsin ‘Pride’ Guide

When Gov. Tony Evers ordered the Pride flag raised above the Capitol for the first time, he made it clear: Wisconsin is a place for everyone. And it’s on all of us to support each other — gay, straight, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, asexual, queer, questioning, etc. After all, who are we to judge?!

That’s why we put together this Pride Guide to get you up-to-speed on how to be the best ally possible, as well as answer some of the questions you may be too shy to ask:

What does LGBTQ mean?

It’s actually shorthand for LGBTTTQQIAA+ (a mouthful, we know!) This acronym for the Queer community (note the capital Q) represents people who are: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Transsexual, 2/Two Spirit, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, and Allies, and the ‘+’ represents people who identify as Pansexual, Agender, Gender Queer, Bigender, Gender Variant, and Pangender. According to OK2BME, a counseling service for LGBTQ+ people, it’s always evolving, so it’s simply best to “be respectful and use the terms that people prefer.” There may be some terms that are unfamiliar in that list – no worries. We got you. Keep reading!

Terms to Know

Start by learning the difference between gender, biological sex, and sexuality.

🏳️‍🌈 Gender, or gender identity, refers to a person’s “deeply felt, internal and individual experience of gender, which may or may not correspond to the person’s physiology or designated sex at birth.” (In other words, gender has nothing to do with anatomy.) Here’s a link to learn more from the World Health Organization.

🏳️‍🌈 Biological sex refers to the anatomical parts, hormones, and chromosomes we have at birth.

🏳️‍🌈 Sexuality (or sexual orientation) is who we are sexually attracted to.

The Human Rights Campaign also has a glossary of terms that you’ve probably heard:

• Gay: A person who is emotionally, romantically or sexually attracted to members of the same gender.

• Lesbian: A woman who is attracted to other women.

• Bisexual: A person who is attracted to more than one sex, gender or gender identity. This is sometimes used interchangeably with the term pansexual.

• Pansexual: Someone who has the potential for attraction to any gender.

• Asexual: A complete or partial lack of sexual attraction or lack of interest in sexual activity with others.  Often called “ace” for short.

• Gender non-conforming: A broad term referring to people who do not behave in a way that conforms to the traditional expectations of their gender.

• Transgender: An umbrella term for people whose gender identity or expression is different from the sex they were assigned at birth.

• Transman: Someone who was assigned female at birth but identifies as a man.

• Transwoman: Someone who was assigned male at birth but identifies as a woman.

• Cisgender: Someone whose gender identity aligns with the sex they were assigned at birth.

• Non-binary: A person who does not identify exclusively as a man or a woman. They may identify as both, in-between or outside the traditional categories altogether. It can also be used as an umbrella term to encompass other gender non-conforming identities.

• Gender-fluid: Someone who does not identify with a single fixed gender.

• Genderqueer: People who identify as genderqueer usually reject the traditional view that gender is a fixed category and embrace the fluidity of gender. They may see themselves as being both male and female, neither male nor female or as falling completely outside these categories.

Show Your Support

According to Thomson Reuters, there are plenty of others way to show your allyship year-round:

• Volunteer or donate: Whether it’s with a local LGBTQ+ youth center or donating to larger organizations, like the Trevor Project, donations are a great way to show your support to places supporting kids, teens, and adults whose families don’t.
• Become an advocate: Speak up when those around you say something harmful.
• Support LGBTQ+ art and culture: Watch an LGBTQ+-themed movie or show, read a book by an LGBTQ+ artist or buy an album from an LGBTQ+ artist. (See link below!)
• Consider your company’s LGBTQ+ inclusivity: Start a dialogue and make resources available to try and create a more inclusive workplace.

KEEP READING: The Story Behind Madison’s Rainbow Crosswalk