At my university, we have a program called SpeakOUT - basically a LGBTQA speakers bureau. We go up and tell our coming out stories then answer questions for the audience. It's really a great experience, and I love answering the questions - no matter how ridiculous some of them might be.

We have allies on our panels, and sometimes they get really silly questions. But one that I love the most is this - "What do I have to do to become an ally?"

We were doing a panel for a group of admissions workers - they were all student ambassadors who give tours and answer questions about the University for prospective students, so they get trained in all aspects of the school. One of them raised their hand during the Q&A portion of a panel and said this: "I really support LGBT people, and I think that LGBT people should have equal rights as everyone else. What do I do so I can be an ally like the people on your panels?"

My answer? Just be supportive! It always amuses me when people think they HAVE to go through some kind of training so that they can be an ally. It's like you have to have a badge to be an ally - though a friend of mine DOES have a really cool tattoo that marks him as an ally (the word LOVE on his wrist and then rainbow blocks going up his forearm). All that's needed is a little bit of support and a little bit of knowledge.

It's sad to me when there's heterophobia within our own community. We've had people say that our LGBTQA student group cannot have an ally for a Vice President (like we have for the past year and this upcoming year) because "allies don't know what it's like." Well, guess what folks - they get it. That's why they're an ally. Without our allies, we're not going to make it anywhere.

I guess all I'm trying to say is that we talk about coalition building and the movement and being inclusive, but no one really makes sure to include allies when they are planning programs. If they do, it's something thrown off to the side, like a "How To Be An Ally 101" panel that's not really substantial. We need to nurture our allies just as they nurture us if we want to make it anywhere.

I promise, I'm going to get personal soon - I have blog posts built up people! Soon I will be bawling my eyes out to all of you. By the way, John - I did drag for the first time this past March, and the way I got through it was just being as much of a hot mess as I possibly could. It's an option!

Talk to you all next week.