Queer Ally – don’t talk the talk, walk the walk
When it comes to being a queer ally, folks talk the talk.
Don’t say you’re a Queer Ally
Happy Pride Month! Every year, folks add flag emojis to their social media posts, in the hopes that their local queer community will see that they’re a “Queer Ally.” On a macro level, corporations used to sponsor Pride events, also hoping that LGBTQ+ customers don’t remain loyal to their brands. After all, everyone knows queer folks choose soft drinks, beer, potato chips, and other consumables because the corp “rainbows” their logo for June, right?
*sigh*
Even the banks and investment firms pretend to give a damn about queers in June. Well, at least they used to. Now, any corp with business before the Trump administration drops people Republicans hate like a rock. They don’t even do a wink-wink-nudge-nudge at this point.
Let’s not forget Transgender people. While it’s possible to simply ignore gays, it’s absolutely necessary to go the extra yard in establishing that you’re not a “transgender defender.” It’s part of the Republican playbook to label anyone supporting basic rights and health services for trans people as downright immoral, un-Christian, and un-American. It works, particularly when they remind parents of teen girls how their daughters won’t get a fair shake in high school athletics.
Talking the talk isn’t enough
Starting today and through June 30th, we’ll see realtors, mortgage brokers, financial planners, investment counselors and bank loan officers declare that they’re a “Queer Ally.” That designation, along with those emojis and “love is love” comments are code. Those professionals are often self-employed and/or rely heavily on commissions as part of their income. They really have no intention of reaching out to queers. OK, maybe if your gay cousin is selling their house, they would list it, but showing a property to a lesbian couple isn’t likely going to happen. They know queers aren’t going to finance a real estate purchase with them. There are usually other bank officers who specialize in lending to queer-owned businesses.
So, the Queer Ally does bare minimum. If confronted by that friend from high school or sorority sister who is the Republican Ward Captain, they’ll say, “oh, I have to do that so they don’t come for me.”
Walking the walk
It’s easy to identify the true Queer Ally. For openers, they walk the walk. When hateful people come for queers, they stand up. They don’t hide behind a tiny Pride flag. They’re willing to reject efforts to ban books written by queer authors about queer families and kids. They object when their children come home from school and tell them the horrible things conservative teachers say. They know that their daughter’s soccer team lost because they had a bad day, not because of the one trans girl who lives on the other side of the state.
Speak your support
I know I’m going to get a lot of “not-me!” comments when this post drops here and on The Places. I don’t argue with those folks, but I do remember them. As the old saying goes, “hit dogs holler.”
NOTE: Our Pride Fleur-De-Lis flag is from Bourbon Pride, a shop on Bourbon and Dumaine Streets, next to Cafe’ Lafittte and across from Clover Grill.
