Benefits for Being an Ally
- You open yourself up to the possibility of close relationships with an addition 15% of the population (at least) of the world (including people you already thought you were close to).
- You may be an important reason that your friend, classmate, teammate, brother, sister, professor, mother, or father finally decides that life is worthwhile. “Safe Zones” help gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and questioning people develop stronger self-esteem and pride in who they are.
- You will make a difference in the campus environment and in the lives of members of the gay, lesbian, transgendered, bisexual, and questioning community.
- You will make the campus a better place for everyone. Oppression is a negative force, and as long as it exists, everyone is impacted.
- You become less locked into gender role stereotypes.
- You increase your ability to have close and loving relationships with same-sex friends.
- You have opportunities to learn from, teach, and have impact on a population with whom you might not otherwise interact.
- You may make the difference in the lives of young people who have only heard anti-gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender/questioning messages from the rest of society.
- You put yourself in the position to challenge and change society with your knowledge.
Adapted from:
Washington, J. and Evans, N.J. (1991). “Becoming an Ally.” In Beyond Tolerance: Gays, Lesbians, and Bisexuals on Campus. USA: ACPA.