Human Rights Campaign (HRC)’s Guide to Coming Out as a Straight Supporter is intended to build bridges of understanding when someone you know comes out to you. The guide answers initial questions, and shares facts, strategies, and ways to show your support of LGBTQ equality.
In a historic 5-4 ruling in June 2015, the Supreme Court of the United States found bans on marriage equality to be unconstitutional—and that the fundamental right to marriage is a fundamental right for all. Despite this monumental progress, there are still many obstacles impeding full equality for LGBTQ people. Anti-LGBT legislators continue to push forward harmful legislation. We need your voice more than ever.
“Even with marriage equality now the law of the land, the battle for LGBT rights at the state level continues to be a story of both successes and setbacks,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “Though a number of states are expanding access to full equality for LGBT people and their families, a majority of states are still struggling to reach even a basic level of equality for LGBT people.”
Support the Equality Act. LGBTQ people across the country remain vulnerable to discrimination on a daily basis and too often have little recourse. The current patchwork of protections for LGBTQ people across the country is inadequate. Every person, every employer and every business should know that discrimination is wrong and illegal, no matter where they live or work. LGBTQ people and their families need clear, consistent protections against discrimination under federal law. Find out more from the HRC and Lamba Legal.
Check out the new resource from Movement Advance Project and the Equality Federation: An Ally’s Guide to Talking About Nondiscrimination Protections for LGBT People
The Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index is the national benchmarking tool on corporate policies and practices pertinent to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees. Click here to search the database to see where your employer ranks.
Straight For Equality: 10 Things You Can Do to Be a Straight Ally (PDF)
PFLAG’s Guide to Being a Straight Ally This is a guide for straight allies, by straight allies. It aims to invite, educate, and engage straight allies in the effort to create a world with equality for all.
Designed for new allies who want to support LGBTQ Americans but often face an array of confusing terminology and language, GLAAD’s Ally’s Guide to Terminology offers an overview of essential vocabulary, terms to avoid, and a few key messages for talking about various issues.
National Black Justice Coalition’s (NBJC) LGBT Families of Color: Facts at a Glance This fact sheet explicitly examines LGBTQ families of color, though many of the findings apply more broadly to any family of color—or even any family—where children are not being raised by two married, biological parents.
NBJC’s Power of Us Campaign celebrates the unity, value and worth of the Black LGBTQ community. It features just a few of the out, proud, straight-allied and vocal members of our community.
NBJC Injustice At Every Turn: A look at Black Respondents in the National Transgender Discrimination Survey
NBJC’s Jumping the Broom: A Black Perspective on Same-Gender Marriage
Silvia Rivera Law Project works to guarantee that all people are free to self-determine their gender identity and expression, regardless of income or race, and without facing harassment, discrimination, or violence. Here is their Trans 101 Guide to gender identity.
Trans@MIT has a helpful toolkit of Allies of Trans*People to learn more about how the lives and concerns of trans* people differ from those of LBG people. Use the Action Tips for Trans* Allies to move forward to becoming a better ally of the Trans* Community.
GLAAD has helpful Tips for Allies of Transgender People that can be used as you move toward becoming a better ally of the trans* community. Of course, this list is not exhaustive and cannot include all the “right” things to do or say – because often there is no one “right” answer to every situation you might encounter.
Athlete Ally Answers Questions for teams on how they can work together to create an inclusive environment for their LGBTQ teammates
The Women’s Sports Foundation, founded by Billie Jean King, works to create equity and fair treatment in college athletics across the nation. Read more on their recommendations for Eliminating Homophobia and encouraging Participation of Transgender Athletes on the field.
OutSports offers suggestions for allies on how we can be more effective in our role to create opportunities for the LGBT Community, not ourselves.
Workplace Equality Buying Guide Whether you are buying a cup of coffee or renovating your home, by supporting businesses that support workplace equality you send a powerful message that LGBTQ inclusion is good for the bottom line.
We Are Allies 