Sir this is an Arby’s
There’s a thing called Clarks Village, for (it says) Somerset Outlet Shopping. Lots of stuff to buy, for up to 60% off! Whoopee! Also have you heard about our lord and savior the things you can do to support the LGBTQIA+ community? HAVE you?
Wait there’s more. It has a Pride Tree! And a whole long list of things you can do!
This year, the fabulous Bristol Pride Day takes place on Saturday 13th July on The Downs. A Pride event with the community at its heart, international headliners, and all without the high ticket price, Bristol Pride is determined to keep Pride accessible for everyone that wants to celebrate diversity, champion inclusivity, and protest prejudice. This year, The Human League is headlining the main stage, along with tons of other fantastic acts.
There are various ways to support Bristol Pride, including buying a Pride Supporter Wristband, which gets you free bus travel and other benefits on the day, and by online donations. Buy your supporter wristband and see how else you can help by visiting the website.
Surely, you think, I’ve messed up and found the wrong page somehow. Nope: this is an outlet store that moonlights as the Somerset edition of Pink News.
It has tips. Tips on what? Silly question. How to be a better ally, of course.
- Call out homophobic and transphobic behaviour when you see it, if it is safe to do so. For example, correct your friends or family if they’re using outdated terms or inform a member of staff if you hear abusive language on public transport.
- Use inclusive language to help everyone feel united. For example, address a group of people with “Hi everybody” instead of “Hi ladies and gentlemen”. It’s a subtle change in phrasing that makes a big difference.
- Normalise the use of pronouns, such as ‘he/him’, ‘she/her’ and ‘they/them’. Adding pronouns to your email signature or social media profile helps to create a more welcoming environment for transgender and non-binary people.
The “use of pronouns” has been normalised as long as the language has existed. We all use he and him, she and her, they and them, every single day, because they come up in ordinary conversation. How much more normal do you want “you” and “we” to get?
- Expand your knowledge! There are plenty of educational resources online. To start, you could look up a glossary of common LGBTQIA+ terms to ensure you’re speaking to those around you in the most respectful way. We also recommend reading about the incredible history of LGBTQIA+ activism and the struggles the community has faced, to understand why Pride month is so important.
- Show up in person. Find out about events, marches and volunteering opportunities to support your local Pride organisations. Taking part in our Tree of Pride is a great start!
- Don’t make assumptions. Lazy and incorrect assumptions are damaging to the LGBTQIA+ community. For example, guessing somebody’s sexual preferences, assuming a gay man has certain interests or assuming someone identifies as a woman due to the way they’re dressed can be very offensive and upsetting. Your intentions may be positive, but the outcome might not be.
Oops time’s up! The outlet’s closing. Sorry you didn’t have time to shop. See you next year!
Wait, what? I thought that seeing the way the man is dressed is how you know he is a trans woman. If the man has long hair, wears makeup, manicures his nails, wears a cute skirt that goes spinny, pouts, and tilts his head, that’s what “being a woman” consists of. That’s how you KNOW that really, he’s a woman. He’s more womany a woman, and more female, than any old cis cunt can ever be.
Yeah, the most respectful way, like ‘front holes’. Oh, wait, that only refers to women, who aren’t people, and therefore aren’t included in ‘those around you’. If they are around you, they must be Karens and not worth respecting.
The language surrounding the trans ideology is the opposite of the most respectful way, inclusive of not being respectful enough to consider ‘transwomen’ adult enough to function in the world without having their delusions validated. Frankly, though, many of them don’t appear to be adult enough.
These aspiring Red Guards are just itching for the power to enforce their ideology. It’s right in their “tips”. Let’s see what these tips are actually suggesting.
1. Police other people’s speech. Publicly bully those who aren’t using the proper jargon and retooled language. This is particularly important in situations where you have the support and numbers to do so with impunity. This includes famiy, friends and strangers.
2. Police your own speech. Reword everything you say in compliance with genderism, or be subject to Tip 1.
3.Normalize the ideologically compliant use of improper pronouns against both reality and the personal freedom to choose for oneself.
Other things you can do:
1. Re-educate yourself, being careful to use only approved sources of information. Prove yourself worthy of acceptance. Familiarize yourself with and internalize the approved narrative and talking points so that you can use them against critics and doubters.
2. Give your physical presence to the cause to bolster our numbers and make us look more powerful and popular than we really are. Your presence can help us intimidate critics and opponents.
3. Don’t think for yourself; you may come to the wrong conclusion. Believe what we tell you, when we tell you, even if it seems to be contradictory and incoherent. We know better than you. Your education is never complete; it is always provisional and subject to change without notice. Accept correction with gratitude and humility. Compliance and obedience are more important than knowledge.