Ally
An Ally, in the context of LGBTQ+ communities, refers to any individual who supports and advocates for the rights and dignity of LGBTQ+ individuals. While the term was originally created for usage by supportive heterosexual and cisgender individuals, many regard that anyone committed to combating discrimination against LGBTQ+ persons can define themselves as an ally, including those that identify as LGBTQ+. This support can manifest in various forms, from participation in LGBTQ+ rights campaigns to educational initiatives that promote understanding of LGBTQ+ issues.[1][2][3][4][5]
In 2021, wiki user S9ud0w coined the term composite ally, referring to an ally with a specific inclination towards one of the specific queer spectrums, or an ally with a potential to become part of the queer community but has not yet come out.[6]
Related terms have been utilized to specify the LGBTQ+ identity that one supports, such as transgender ally and gay ally. However, some argue that specifying identity can be arbitrary, as an ally supports all LGBTQ+ identities and concepts. It also implies that the ally may not support other LGBTQ+ identities and concepts.[7]
The concept of being an ally has expanded to embrace a more comprehensive approach, moving beyond merely supporting individual rights to actively challenging pervasive discrimination and societal norms. It involves not just avoiding discrimination but engaging in the fight against it and advocating for broader social transformation. Furthermore, intersectionality is key in the modern understanding of allyship. It involves recognizing all facets of an individual's identity, such as their race, disabilities, and social class, and understanding how these elements intersect to shape their overall experiences.[4]
History
The exact origins of the term ally in reference to support for the LGBTQ+ community are unclear, but it has been in use since the events following the Stonewall Riots in the United States.[4]
The Indigenous Action Media proposed accomplice as an alternative to ally, indicating a deeper level of commitment and active engagement in the fight against discrimination. Accomplices are described not just as supporters but as active participants in pushing for change and protecting vulnerable members of LGBTQ+ communities. Braden Hill, an Australian Indigenous/queer researcher commented "Ultimately, the proof is in doing the work and Indigenous/Queer mob don’t want more allies, we need accomplices who actually do things’".[4]
Rainbow Capitalism
Allyship has been occasionally criticized, especially in capitalistic contexts where businesses benefit monetarily from representing themselves as allies, often termed rainbow capitalism.[8][9]
Dr. Wendy Cumming-Potvin, an associate professor and author from Murdoch University, stated that while actions like adding a rainbow to one’s Facebook profile or tweeting support can raise awareness, these gestures alone are insufficient for real change. Dr. Cumming-Potvin criticized some for benefiting from being perceived as allies without taking significant risks or making substantial changes for LGBTQ+ causes.[4]
This tendency is often observed in businesses that may promote LGBTQ+ identities and communities during seasonal events such as Pride Month or when it is convenient for them. In May 2023, U.S. retailer Target faced criticism for removing its pride-based merchandise after backlash from conservative groups. Erik Carnell, a transgender designer and artist whose products were pulled from Target's shelves, stated, "It's a very dangerous precedent to set, that if people just get riled up enough about the products that you're selling, you can completely distance yourself from the LGBT community, when and if it's convenient. ... If you're going to take a stance and say that you care about the LGBT community, you need to stand by that regardless."[9]
Disney, a mass media and entertainment conglomerate, left some LGBTQ+ members disappointed after director JJ Abrams teased the reveal of an LGBTQ+ character in the film Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, only for the characters involved to be of two minor roles, whom briefly kissed at the very conclusion of the film.[10][8]
Related Terms
| Label | Relationship | Description | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inclusionist | Similar | An individual that is inclusive of all LGBTQ+ identities, including unique minorities and experiences. | Inclusionist refers to the acceptance of unique LGBTQ+ minorities and their experiences within their respective scopes, whereas allyship refers to the support of the overall umbrella. |
| Queermisia / Queerphobia | Opposite | The hatred or fear of queer individuals. | Queermisia represents non-supportive concepts towards queer/LGBTQ+ individuals. |
Ally Types
| Label | Identity | Flag | Description | Creator(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aromantic Ally | Aromantic |  [11]
|
An ally supportive of aromantic individuals. | ally-flag-compendium |
| Asexual Ally | Asexual |  [12]
|
An ally supportive of asexual individuals. | ally-flag-compendium |
| Bisexual Ally | Bisexual |  [13]
|
An ally supportive of bisexual individuals. | ally-flag-compendium |
| Intersex Ally | Intersex |  [14]
|
An ally supportive of intersex individuals. | ally-flag-compendium |
| Polyamorous Ally (for cishets) | Polyamorous |  [15]
|
A cishet individual supportive of polyamorous individuals. | William (Cryptocrew) |
| Questioning Ally | Questioning |  [16]
|
An ally supportive of questioning individuals. | ally-flag-compendium |
| Trans Ally | Transgender |  [17]
|
An ally supportive of transgender individuals. | Unknown |
| Xenogender/Xenic Ally | Xenogender / Xenic |  [18]
|
An ally supportive of xenogender or xenic individuals. | Ringotheman |
Flags and Symbols
The specific origins of the straight ally flag are unknown, however it is said to represent all non-LGBTQ+ individuals who are proud allies of the community, and is thought to have been created in the early 2000s. Despite the flag name only specifying straight individuals, it is used by straight and cisgender individuals. The black and white of the flag represents straight individuals, with the rainbow letter A representing the queer community. Variations of the flag often change the A to specify the support of a specific queer identity, such as the transgender ally flag including the transgender flag instead of the rainbow flag.[19]
The cisgender ally flag was created by @.vaultausir on Twitter, representing allies that are cisgender.[20] The monogamous cishet flag was created by Cryptocrew, representing allies that are monogamous, cisgender, and heterosexual.[15] The QPOC/TPOC White Cishet flag was created by Cryptocrew, representing allies that are cishet and white, expressing support for queer or trans individuals of color (people of color).[15]
Cisgender Ally (@.vaultausir)
Monogamous Cishet Ally (Cyptocrew)
QPOC/TPOC Ally (Cryptocrew)
Resources
- ↑ “LGBTQ+ Glossary.” PFLAG, pflag.org/glossary/.
- ↑ "Glossary of Terms". Human Rights Campaign, HRC Foundation, 31 May. 2023, https://www.hrc.org/resources/glossary-of-terms.
- ↑ "List of LGBTQ+ terms". Stonewall, https://www.stonewall.org.uk/list-lgbtq-terms. Accessed on 17 Apr. 2024.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Cumming-Potvin, Wendy. "LGBTQA+ allies and activism: past, present and future perspectives". Taylor & Francis Online, 26 Dec. 2023, https://doi.org/10.1080/10304312.2023.2296344.
- ↑ “Ally» the Trans Language Primer.” Translanguageprimer.com, 17 Aug. 2021, translanguageprimer.com/ally/. Accessed 7 Aug. 2023.
- ↑ S9ud0w. "Composite Ally". LGBTQIA+ Wiki, 13 Jan, 2021, https://www.lgbtqia.wiki/wiki/Composite_Ally.
- ↑ Defiant-Snow8782. "Why are straight people who are allies to gay people called...". Reddit, 3 Sep. 2023, https://www.reddit.com/r/lgbt/comments/168xi4o/why_are_straight_people_who_are_allies_to_gay/.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Kose, Melisa. "Rainbow Capitalism: The Commodification of Pride and its Impact on LGBTQ+ Mental Health". Medium, 1 Jul. 2021, https://medium.com/inspire-the-mind/rainbow-capitalism-the-commodification-of-pride-and-its-impact-on-lgbtq-mental-health-c0a3bb07c653.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Reid, Helen. "Target Pride backlash exposes 'rainbow capitalism' problem, designer says". Reuters, 31 May. 2023, https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/target-pride-backlash-exposes-rainbow-capitalism-problem-designer-says-2023-05-31/.
- ↑ Damshenas, Sam. "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker makes history with franchise’s first same-sex kiss". Gaytimes, 18 Dec. 2019, https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker-makes-history-with-franchises-first-same-sex-kiss/.
- ↑ ally-flag-compendium. "My Aromantic Ally flag!". Tumblr, 15 Dec, 2020, https://web.archive.org/web/20230813200911/https://www.tumblr.com/ally-flag-compendium/637571800865325056/my-aromantic-ally-flag.
- ↑ ally-flag-compendium. "Here is my Asexual Ally flag!". Tumblr, 17 Dec, 2020, https://web.archive.org/web/20230813200920/https://www.tumblr.com/ally-flag-compendium/637667268265918464/here-is-my-asexual-ally-flag.
- ↑ ally-flag-compendium. "My Bisexual Ally flag!". Tumblr, 13 Dec, 2020, https://web.archive.org/web/20230813200903/https://www.tumblr.com/ally-flag-compendium/637367527423557632/my-bisexual-ally-flag. Archived on 13 Aug, 2023.
- ↑ ally-flag-compendium. "Here is my Intersex Ally flag!". Tumblr, 18 Dec, 2020, https://web.archive.org/web/20231024011522/https://www.tumblr.com/ally-flag-compendium/637814322782994432/here-is-my-intersex-ally-flag.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Cryptocrew. "Allies". LGBTQIA+ Wiki, 22 Jan, 2021, https://www.lgbtqia.wiki/wiki/Allies.
- ↑ ally-flag-compendium. "Here is my Questioning Ally flag!". Tumblr, 19 Apr, 2021, https://web.archive.org/web/20230905122428/https://www.tumblr.com/ally-flag-compendium/648811540211990528/here-is-my-questioning-ally-flag. Archived on 5 Sep, 2023.
- ↑ SUMadmin. “A GUIDE for TRANS ALLIES.” Suit up Maine, 1 June 2022, www.suitupmaine.org/trans-ally-guide/. Accessed 7 Aug. 2023.
- ↑ Ringotheman. "Allies". LGBTQIA+ Wiki, 7 Mar, 2021, https://www.lgbtqia.wiki/wiki/Allies.
- ↑ “What Is the Straight Ally Pride Flag, and What Does It Stand For?” Queer in the World, 10 Nov. 2021, queerintheworld.com/straight-ally-pride-flag/.
- ↑ @LJMLH2. "The Cisgender Ally Flag:". Twitter, 30 Jun, 2021, https://web.archive.org/web/20210701070020/https://twitter.com/LJMLH2/status/1410445419113504769. Archived on 1 Jul, 2021.
