Resources for Allies
Anyone, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, can support the LGBTQIA+ community. Being an ally takes action! LGBTQIA+ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual, and the + holds space for the expanding and new understanding of the diverse aspects of gender and sexual identities.
Allies work to stay informed on current LGBTQIA+ issues and events. They speak out against injustices and advocate for equity. Here are some ways to get started:
The Pride Center offers a wide range of LGBTQIA+ workshops on varying identities and topics, such as:
- Pride Center Overview: A workshop detailing the mission, vision and programs within the Pride Center.
- Foundations of Gender and Sexuality: This workshop discusses how we are socialized into ideas of sex, sexual orientation, gender, and gender expression.
- Trans101: This workshop includes a brief explanation of socialization into ideas of sex, gender, sexual orientation, and gender expression.
- LGBTQIA+ Inclusivity: This workshop will promote understanding, awareness and inclusivity within organizations.
- Other: Our presentations can be modified to accommodate your needs. Please have an accurate and detailed description of your presentation and allow sufficient time for your request to be processed by our presenters.
For more information and to request training, please visit the Pride Center Website
The definitions listed below are for educational purposes and are provided as a resource for LGBTQIA+ Allies to understand and gain a starting point in learning the terminology commonly used in the community. This list does not represent the entire ever-growing vocabulary of the LGBTQIA+ community. Many of the words/meanings provided in these links may change. Conclusively, it is important to acknowledge that every individual defines these terms independently and may be different from the definitions listed below:
The Human Rights Campaign - Glossary of Terms
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) provides a general glossary of some common terms and identities in the LGBTQIA+ community.
UC Davis’s Glossary contains a larger collection of terms, language, and slang that may be used in the community.
Videos:
LGBTQ+ Terminology: The Importance of Educating Yourself – MyWorkplaceHealth
Unsure of where to start? Here is a quick video on some common terms used in the community. For more information, watch their full LGBTQ+ inclusion in the workplace video series.
LGBTQ+ Terms Explained - HDWNKT
How Did We Not Know That explains more terms used in the LGBTQIA+ community in their animated education minisode.
LGBT 101: An Introduction to the Queer community
A short informational video explaining some of the terms and identities within the LGBTQ+ community.
LGBTQIA+ is an acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual, and more. These terms are commonly used to describe a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
Learn more about pronouns, LGBTQIA+ Identities, and Intersectionality at The Center’s quick guide to activating your allyship.
Being an LGBTQ+ Ally – Human Rights Campaign
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) provides a helpful guide to being an LGBTQ+ ally.
Guide to Being an Ally to Transgender and Nonbinary Young People – The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project provides an introductory educational guide to understanding and supporting transgender and nonbinary youth.
CSUN and the LGBTQIA+ Advisory Committee answer why pronouns are important, how to use pronouns, and some FAQs to help you use everyone’s correct pronouns.
Videos:
What do LGBTQ and LGBTQIA+ mean? – 6abc Philadelphia
Know the basics of what LGBTQIA+ stands for in this short introduction to the alphabet of this acronym.
Gender Identity and Pronouns – What Will You Teach The World? - Onlea
Learn more about gender identity and how you can ask/use for pronouns as an LGBTQIA+ ally.
How to Be a Better LGBTQ+ Ally – It Takes Courage
What it means to be a good ally, and how to continue to be an ally even after the parades are over.
How to be a good LGBTQ+ Ally – MyWorkplaceHealth
MyWorkplaceHealth demonstrates ways you can be an ally in your field of work. Recognize harmful behavior, and how to help LGBTQ+ co-workers create a safer and more comfortable work environment.
How To Be A LGBTQIA+ Ally – AMAZE Org
What is an LGBTQIA+ ally? How can you support your LGBTQIA+ friends and loved ones? Watch the full video to learn more!
Psych Hub presents a video about LGBTQ youth and how you can better understand, support, care for their mental health, and be an ally.
Knowing history is an important step to better understanding the community and becoming an ally:
History provides an in-depth look at the LGBTQ movement in America, learn from their series of articles including Gay Rights, Gay Marriage, Stonewall Riots, and many more.
Milestones in the American Gay Rights Movement - PBS
PBS provides a written timeline of some historical Gay Rights milestones throughout history.
Discover LGBTQ+ History in Los Angeles
An interactive map of locations in LA that hold LGBTQ+ history, learn along the way by exploring the history of each area and its impacts today.
Videos:
History of the LGBT+ Pride Flag – It Takes Courage
Take a quick look at the history of the Pride Flag (and a few others!) originally designed by the late Gilbert Baker.
What Happened at Stonewall? – It Takes Courage
Learn more LGBT+ history with It Takes Courage as they answer a few questions about what happened at the 1969 Stonewall Riots.
How the Stonewall Riots Sparked a Movement - HISTORY
The Stonewall Inn Riots sparked the beginning of the gay rights movement in America. Learn how members of the LGBTQ community came together to protest exploitation and police harassment.
A Living History of the LGBT Movement Since The 1800s - NextDayBetter and AARP
A #LivingHistory of the LGBT Movement" powered by AARP - a storytelling series honoring past, present, and future heroes of the LGBT movement. Learn more at AARP
Here are some resources for support in coming out or supporting a family/friend who plans to come out:
Coming Out Guides - The Human Rights Campaign
The Human Rights Campaign includes various identity-specific coming out resources such as Black, Latinx, Asian Pacific Islanders, and more in their ‘Being an LGBTQ+ Ally’ website guide.
Coming Out: Information for Parents of LGBTQ Teens – American Academy of Pediatrics
The American Academy of Pediatrics provides a list of questions that LGBTQ teens may have for Parents/Family and some answers they can provide.
The Coming Out Handbook - The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project contains a guide exploring what coming out is, with some common questions and tools to utilize yourself or support someone you may know coming out.
Videos:
Amaze Org provides an educational video example of a conversation about coming out LGBTQ+.
LGBTQ 8 Coming Out Tips – Psych2Go
Psych2Go provides 8 tips to coming out to friends and family.
Support for LGBTQ Youth Starts at Home: An #AsYouAre Project
This animated short focuses on the impact of rejection children, youth and young adults can experience in their homes and communities and provides examples and strategies to promote support, acceptance and affirmation of youth. For more information, please visit the Family Acceptance Project website.