All over the globe, June is recognised as Pride Month. It marks the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, which occurred in June 1969. These riots were the first time queer communities fought back against raids on the gay bars and clubs.

LGBTQIA+ Pride fights against discrimination and violence towards people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual and more (hence, the +). It celebrates the self-affirmation, dignity, rights and visibility of the LGBTQIA+ community.

So why do we need Pride and how can I be an ally?

Gen Z'rs who identify as LGBTI are twice as likely to experience anxiety or depressing and are three times more likely to attempt suicide (Minus18). We need to incorporate Pride at every level of every school, uni and workplace.

An ally is someone who supports the equal treatment of a community which they're not part of. Being an ally at your workplace or university is important and you can make a difference. You can be an ally by doing so many things but here are a few ways:

• Respect pronouns and normalise introducing yourself with pronouns and including your pronouns in your email signature and on social media
• Speak up - call out any discrimination
• Learn about issues that affect the LGBTQIA+ community
• Listen to anyone who identifies as part of the LGBTQIA+ community. They can tell you how to be an ally better than anyone!

Resources to read and share

Social media

• Matt Bernstein
• ACON NSW
• Equality Australia

Websites

• Minus18 - Resources to help and guidance for LGBTQIA+ youth
• Queerspace - Health and wellbeing support
• QLife - Australia wide and anonymous support
• BlaQ - Empowering the Aboriginal and Torre Strait Islander LGBTQIA+ community

Sources:

Youth of the Streets

One Eighty

Reach Out

Minus18

Library of Congress