Community in Focus - Being a LGBTQ Ally (August, 2020)

August 24, 2020·1 hr 12 min·5 clips

Hazel defines allyship through three actions: acknowledge, accept, and address your own ignorance.

1. Public Media Network’s August 2020 episode focuses on LGBTQ allyship and community work in Kalamazoo. 2. Matt Halloran, a Public Media Network board member, moderates the panel and asks local participants how institutions and individuals can become more supportive. 3. The episode asks what meaningful allyship requires beyond public statements, labels, and attendance at Pride events. 4. Nathan Wynn identifies himself as Western Michigan University’s Director of LGBT Student Services and describes support for lesbian, bisexual, gay, transgender, questioning, and other students. 5. Nathan says the office organizes Fall Fab Fest, Thanksgiving dinner, scholarships, and educational programs, although COVID-19 disrupted Fall Fab Fest in 2020. 6. Marshall Kilgore identifies Outfront as Kalamazoo’s leading LGBTQ resource center for Southwest Michigan and describes its added antiracist mission. 7. Hazel identifies herself as executive director of Queer Theater Kalamazoo and says the organization has operated for about seven or eight years. 8. Connor Clock identifies himself as Queer Theater Kalamazoo’s artistic director and describes creating space for people to explore and express themselves through theater. 9. Marshall cites 2009, when Kalamazoo became Michigan’s 16th city to adopt an LGBT nondiscrimination education ordinance. 10. Nathan says LGBTQ youth and students can face transportation barriers, difficulty finding affirming doctors, and uncertainty about reporting discrimination. 11. Hazel says coming out as transgender was one of the most difficult moments of her life because it felt like “painting a target on my back.” 12. Nathan explains that LGBT, GLBT, LBGT, and LGBTQ terminology has changed through history and differs across regions and communities. 13. Nathan uses carbonated-beverage terms such as Coke, soda, and pop to illustrate how language varies by region and subculture. 14. Marshall compares identity labels to ingredients in peach cobbler and white bean chili, arguing that labels can help people respect differences. 15. Hazel defines allyship with the three actions “acknowledge, accept, and address” your own ignorance. 16. Marshall describes brave spaces through the acronym BRAVING, including boundaries, accountability, integrity, the vault, non-judgment, and generosity. 17. Connor argues that businesses must follow through with staff training and inclusive practices instead of placing signs on doors that promise safety. 18. Nathan distinguishes an ally, an advocate, and an accomplice by the degree of support, advocacy, and personal risk involved. 19. People seeking practical LGBTQ allyship guidance. 20. Listeners uninterested in community advocacy or identity terminology.

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Public Media Network Podcasts