6 Things You Can Do Now To Help The LGBTQI
Alla's recent conversation with a friend sparked this question - What can we do to help the LGBTQI struggle? And I figured many people who support the LGTBQI's quest for equality are probably asking the same question. So here are 6 things that you can do now, whether you're part of the LGBTQI community or an ally.
1. Get out of your bubble.
Living in your own bubble or world is very enticing. It's happy. It's peaceful. It's safe. It's nice. Now, we see this often, heck, Alla and I were once satisfied in our own bubbles. We always thought, "Ah well, at least we're okay here. We're doing fine. We're living our lives as we want it to be." That's why it took us 4 years before we started Love Is Love. One day, we woke up, our bubble is not all it's cracked up to be. We couldn't be married. If something happens to one of us, we can't see each other in the hospital because "we're not family". It dawned on us. We have to do something. We have to speak up and stand up. If you're not LGBTQI but you support us, still, get out of your bubble. Be aware of what's happening and show your support.
2. Be aware of what's happening.
In close relation to #1 above, once you get out of the bubble, get to know the current situation - the good or the bad. Know what's happening around you. Are people being discriminated? What does our current law doing about it?
3. Talk to people.
Start with your friends if you want. You don't have to be waving banners of protest all the time. Take the time to ask about their experiences, their opinions and engage in a healthy conversation or debate. Whether you're LGTBQI or an ally, you'll be surprised with how a calm conversation can go far. No need to be angry all the time. Understand how the other person sees the situation and try to let them understand where you're coming from.
4. Participate.
The best example of this is the Pride March. Go out, show your support. Other than the pride march, there are various events such as open mics, talks and the like that you can go to. Not only will you get to participate, you'll also be able to educate yourself and get to know more people.
5. Stand up and Speak out.
Again, this doesn't need to be something very big like rallying for the cause all the time. When you see discrimination or hear slurs around you, stand up and speak up. Let me clarfify, do not go for screaming and violence. It could be as simple as calling out someone and saying, "Hey, that's not very nice." Words are powerful and you can use that power for good.
6. Be visible.
This maybe hard for some, especially for the LGBTQI since this means coming out. But you can be visible in small ways too, like wearing a shirt promoting equality (ehem ehem). Kidding aside, it could be sporting a rainbow bracelet or posting something at social media. Or supporting brands that support equality. It could be anything. It could be verbally saying to people, "Yes, I support the LGBTQI community."
There's a lot of other things that you can do. As the saying goes, everything starts with a single step or a small act.
