How to Get More Involved in the LGBTQ Community
Identifying or being a big supporter of the LGBTQ Community can give one a real sense of pride and allyship for the Community. This can be hard to embrace if you are not surrounded by like-minded individuals, which is quite common.
The good news is there are small ways to get more involved on your own that can really help you.
Here’s 6 ways to help you get more involved in the LGBTQ Community.
1. LGBTQ Center/GSA
Of course the first way to get more involved is to jump right into a place where you know you’ll find like-minded people. Places specific to the community such as LGBTQ Centers or GSA clubs are great to help you get more involved. There’s probably one right on your campus, and you may not even have been aware.
Oftentimes they are filled with people who really support the Community, or those who identify as LGBTQ. If you are new to your college campus, or are not sure, be sure to check on your school’s website to see if one exists. If not, check in with student government to see how you can start your own!
2. Get involved with outside organizations.
Since it takes a lot to spread the word on LGBTQ rights and doing things like making schools more inclusive, there are outside organizations that do a lot of work to help the LGBTQ Community. A few of these include GLSEN, GLAAD, and The Human Rights Campaign.
GLSEN helps to make schools more inclusive, typically high schools. This is great because it’s really the prime time where LGBTQ youth may just be finding themselves and can oftentimes be bullied. Check out GLSEN’s website to become a volunteer in your nearby GLSEN chapter.
GLAAD works with how LGBTQ individuals are represented in the media. Just to give an incentive to sign up — I just saw a screening of the film Grandma for free! Finally, The Human Rights Campaign helps to create equal rights for the LGBTQ Community, and you can do things like sign petitions to help out.
3. Write about it.
I think it’s safe to say that many of us at uloop.com enjoy writing, and can all agree that it is a great way to spread the word about different topics. Since we all have so much freedom in what we write on here, LGBTQ topics are totally an option. It’s a great place to educate other students or just help them out.
4. Read about it.
While there are not too many LGBTQ fiction novels out there, there are plenty of blogs and websites that discuss LGBTQ related issues to keep you up to date. I recommend the LGBT section of Buzzfeed for entertaining as well as timely articles, but other news sites like Huff Post also have a great assortment of information.
5. Talk to others.
Sometimes the LGBTQ Community feels really small. And sometimes it feels like no one understands your hatred of the binary system or LGBTQ stereotypes, or what your mom said to you last night. It can get really lonely when you don’t have people who can relate and sympathize or give you advice for these difficult situations.
However, there are people out there! I suggest turning to online communities, at least until school starts back up, and you can hopefully go back (or join) a community on campus. Referring to the binary genders, the app Her is a great one for women. Of course you can always contact me!
6. Take classes.
In September I’m taking Introduction to LGBTQ Studies because I just declared a minor in LGBTQ Studies. If you are really passionate about the LGBTQ Community and topics within it, you may want to see if your school offers classes that involve these issues.
Even if you are not studying anything around it, it can be a great way to immerse yourself in a topic you really like, and meet like-minded individuals along the way.
7. Educate others.
It can be really hard to hold back when, say, someone uses incorrect terminology to describe the community. Of course you have to pick your battles as a dedicated ally for the LGBTQ Community, but oftentimes it really is okay to speak up. It may really help someone nearby or for that individual talking to other people in the future.
When you have a lot of opinions about things like LGBTQ issues, you can feel really out of place around those who don’t understand, or care about them. It’s important to find people or ways that you can express these thoughts and ideas for your overall wellbeing. I hope this helps you out!
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