Reflections of an Ally: Celebrating Pride
This article was originally published in the May/June 2023 issue of Med-Surg Nurse Life Magazine.
Pride Month is a time of celebration for the LGBTQIA+ community. For me, as an ally, it becomes more of a time for reflection. I think about what I have accomplished, what I can do better, how much more involved I can become, and if I am putting my best foot forward to ensure my friends and loved ones are aware when they have misconceptions about LGBTQIA+ individuals.
When I reflect on this past year, I realize that I invested a lot more time and energy into being an ally than in previous years, and I hope to keep this momentum going. In the spring of 2022, I co-presented training to faculty at the university where I teach nursing on implicit bias as it relates to working with, teaching, and caring for those who are LGBTQIA+. This experience was made into an article for a national nursing education magazine and was published in January of this year. In the same semester (Spring 2022), I also completed ally training to make me a “certified ally.” As a result, I am allowed to display a sign on my office door to notify everyone that my office is a safe space for those who are LGBTQIA+ individuals who need someone to talk to.
I have also volunteered my time with one of the local LGBTQIA+ organizations. I was a volunteer for the local Pride Festival in June 2022 and paid for their on-site ambulance services for the day. I spent part of the day taking vital signs as a community service during the festival in the hopes it would catch anyone who had hypertension that was not being seen by a provider yet. This March, I put flyers up in my hometown for an inclusive prom that was put on by the same organization.
My last big accomplishment was creating a support group in my college for LGBT students and allies. The goal of the group was to help our LGBTQIA+ students and allies feel supported in their journey through our nursing and health sciences classes. Our first meeting was in November 2022. Currently, I am working on growing attendance, so it is a work in progress. I recently decided to make it more structured to include notable moments and people in LGBTQIA+ history and to talk about current events. I am not only doing this to keep it informational and structured for the students but also to strive to learn more myself so I can be a better ally.
Where did this passion for being an ally come from? When I think about the pivotal point in my history that made me an ally, it was my friendship with Troy (name changed). The friendship that I grew with him and seeing the challenges he faced were the catalysts to want to help and be protective of those who are LGBTQIA+. I often wonder, if not for Troy’s friendship, where my journey as an ally would be today. The human connection I made with him without judgment fostered so many future interactions and friendships with those who are LGBTQIA+. It even spawned an innate sense of empathy when caring for LGBTQIA+ patients and family members in my nursing career. I am eternally grateful to have had such a friend who seemingly bolstered and changed my life without me even knowing it at the time.
So, how does one start their ally journey? I would recommend first for someone to get familiar with the terminology associated with LGBTQIA+, as it helps a lot with understanding. A great glossary can be found at pflag.org. PFLAG is a national organization that provides support to those who are LGBTQIA+ as well as their loved ones. They have an excellent list of resources available on their site as well as how to find a local chapter of the organization. Even just taking the first step of getting familiar with common words can help you not only want to be a good ally but can assist you when you are caring for those who are LGBTQIA+.
If your interest lies in getting more involved in fighting for equality and LGBTQIA+ rights, the Human Rights Campaign is a worthy organization (HRC.org). They are passionate about getting laws passed to protect those who are LGBTQIA+. They provide resources for inclusion and equality efforts and offer information to get involved locally or nationally.
These are just two of the many national and local organizations that have great resources for those who want to know more or get involved in LGBTQIA+ support and rights. Wishing everyone a very safe and happy Pride Month.