Outside my door is a sign like this:

I went through training to allow me to be a safe space for gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual people to come and talk without judgement.
What is crazy about this is the looks I get from people who see it. They always look at it and make a face. Never in a good way but a look of judgement. Most of them do not even know what it stands for and never even ask. They assume it is just to let people know I am gay, which it is not.
Allies can be anyone (straight or gay) who support the GLBT community. What the reactions tell me is that we are a long way from being accepted in the workplace and we need more allies out there to help us.
As I said in an earlier post, I stand up for people who are bullied and I know the GLBT needs my support. That is why I took the training and why I am proud not only as a gay man but a person of the world to be an ally.
I may not change the world but I can make a difference in some people’s lives.
Jeremy
on 26 Apr 2008 at 11:50 pm #
Just curious, what was involved with the training (generally speaking)?
Michael
on 28 Apr 2008 at 10:08 am #
Here is a brief description:
All ALLIES will have attended a training workshop called an “Advance” to learn about oppression, heterosexism, homophobia, the coming out process and the benefits and responsibilities of being an Ally.