Being an Ally: World Book Day 2023

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I use the word “ally” loosely because I find it overused and often abused by those who label themselves “allies.” Despite its current misuse, using a different word would only cause confusion. As you read through this guide, be aware that your definition of “ally” may not be the same as the definition I’ll introduce you to. What’s so special about this guide? There are no easy answers, but this book helps you ask better questions. Because we're all in this together. And we all need allies. Hello Yellow - 80 Books to Help Children Nurture Good Mental Health and Support With Anxiety and Wellbeing - Once you know the history you can help to shape the future. Do some research into the specific battles that are being fought now, and find out the obstacles that the LGBT community is facing. Discover specific campaigns that resonate with you so you can get active and focus your support to help really make a difference. 4. Get involved in the community and show your support

The HRC Corporate Equality Index: Designed to help you learn more about where your company stands when it comes to equality.Apologies aren’t a magic fix and won’t solve mistakes of the past, but there are a few attributes that make for a good apology. One of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves is learning how to create closure within rather than expecting other people to give it to us. Allies is an incredible collection of essays focusing on allyship, written by YA authors. The stories these authors share are personal and varied, just like their experiences: some essays are about the allyship they extended towards other people, some were about how they received help and support from other people and what it meant for them. Some, and I personally think those were the most important, were about failing as an ally. There is a big emphasis on the fact that everyone will make mistakes even if they mean well and I believe it’s a crucial fact that needs to be talked about, because the fear of failing often stops people from doing the right thing. The essays show the ways some authors failed, but then improved, how they managed to learn and move on from missteps. we vote with our wallets and our time way more often than we ever get to vote in elections" (pg. 16) An even more comprehensive (though still not exhaustive) acronym is LGBTQQIP2SAA: lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, queer, intersex, pansexual, two-spirit (2S), androgynous, and asexual. Here’s a more detailed explanation:

Cassie Chadderton, CEO of World Book Day, said: “Our aim as a charity is to encourage all children to love reading, see themselves as readers and ultimately, improve their life chances. This is even more important at a time when the cost of living crisis is set to damage access to books and reading for thousands of children. A person who is feeling marginalized or excluded, tokenized or like an impostor may sideline themselves — by not speaking up, not contributing, not showing up.

Clearly there many options to collectively refer to this large and diverse community – and of course, differences of opinion. In the end, it’s not about using the perfect acronym, but it is about trying to respect all people with our language. LGBTQIA Vocabulary Lists This Book is Anti-Racist: 20 Lessons On How to Wake Up, Take Action, and Do the Work by Tiffany Jewell and Aurelia Durand An individual from an underinvested community cannot easily cast away the weight of their identity (or identities) shaped through oppression on a whim. They carry that weight every single day, for better or for worse. An ally understands that this is a weight that they, too, must be willing to carry and never put down. Why allies are necessary

When an ally takes on the role of the Sponsor, they vocally support the work of colleagues from underrepresented groups in all contexts, but specifically in situations that will help boost those colleagues’ standing and reputations. These glossaries can help make conversations easier and help all of us acquire the language to be as respectful and accurate as possible with our language.

This post is part of TED’s “How to Be a Better Human” series, each of which contains a piece of helpful advice from people in the TED community; browse through all the posts here.