Welcome to our safe space for our LGBTQ2+ community. A space to read, learn and educate yourself on LGBTQ2+ inequality. Here we want to encourage allyship in ways to take action – scroll down to take the first step.
Welcome to our safe space for our LGBT+ community. A space to read, learn and educate yourself on the big issues of LGBT+ inequality. Here we want to encourage allyship and make sure our LGBT+ friends feel supported.
Join us and the All Blood is Equal coalition to end blood donation discrimination by signing the petition. For every petition signed, The Body Shop will donate $1 to All Blood is Equal*.
*From May 31, 2021 to August 29, 2021, The Body Shop will donate $1 of each signature collected to All Blood is Equal, up to a maximum donation of $10,000.
This Pride, we’re doing more than celebrating. We’re raising our voices to bring LGBTQ2+ issues to light. We’re speaking out loud and we’re here to make change. We see you. We stand with you. We support you.
We know not everyone is at the same stage in their journey to become a better ally. Some of you are already on the front line (we salute you), while some of you want to do more. Whether you’re looking for ways to educate yourself, show your support or put your allyship into action, we’ve put together some things you can do to be that better ally.
Stop and take it all in. Sometimes the best thing you can do is to soak up everything. Take time out to actively listen to others’ personal stories and experiences with mental health – whether it’s through podcasts, case studies, biographies or your own LGBTQ2+ friends. It’s time to get uncomfortable.
Read up. Take those stories you’ve heard and find out more. Educate yourselves. Get beneath the skin of the issue, read stats and find out more about the mental health crisis within the LGBTQ2+ community. Lack of understanding and willingness to learn is just as harmful as discriminative systems. You’ve listened to experiences, now it’s time to understand why.
Small things can make a big difference. Referring to someone as the wrong title can hurt. Be thoughtful. Pronouns are a huge point of stress for the trans community. We need to learn and understand how to properly use and normalize pronouns so that our transgender friends can feel seen. Start by adding your pronouns to your email signature or Instagram bio.
Spread the word. Add to the awareness. The more people are informed, the quicker we lose any stigma. Share your findings with your friends, discuss with your colleagues and share on your social media. The silence must be broken. We need to speak out and shout out. The more open conversations we have, the better chance we have to make real change.
Console people, be there for them, do what you can do to help. Learn how to ask your LGBTQ+ friends how they really are. Don’t be afraid to open up conversations with them. Be a listening ear and be a friend. Learn which direction to point your LGBTQ+ friends if they need tailored support.
Call things out. Don’t sit in silence. Tell someone when they’re making a mistake and offer a solution for the future. Not sure what the best solution is? Then research it. You don’t have to know everything; learning is the whole part of the process. The more learning, listening and reading you do, the more equipped you are to handle discrimination.
Do what you can to change perceptions. Follow social media pages, talk to friends, support policy change and find out how you can get involved. Showing up for your LGBTQ+ friends is just as important as speaking up. When we’re united, we’re unstoppable.
Protest, make noise, fight against the system, yes. But have fun. Dance. Pride is a party, too. Nothing can stop you having fun. Pride is a time for many to feel free and be themselves. It’s a time for self-love. Loving yourself is rebelling against outdated systems and discriminative mindsets. Self-love is your superpower. So, go love yourself.
There are lots of good causes fighting the good fight. Find them, research, support. However you can. Sign the Equality Act petition above to fight for safety, advocacy, protection, and well-being for and with the Trans community. For every petition signed, The Body Shop will donate $1 to Equality Federation.*
*From May 31, 2021 to August 29, 2021, The Body Shop will donate $1 of each signature collected to Equality Federation, up to a maximum donation of $25,000.
“Never feel too small or powerless to make a difference.”
Anita Roddick
Founder of The Body Shop
1 Statistics from Equality Federation
2 Statistics from Center for American Progress
3 Statistics from The Body Shop Global Self Love Index