This article was originally published on QuestionMark.blog here.
In a previous QuestionMark, I received many suggestions on how to make our community better. I felt though that these were not very actionable. This is why I came up with 10 ways that almost everyone can put them on their to-do list.
1. Come out
To your family, friends, work and family minors. Gather the confidence to do so when you are comfortable and feel safe.
A more advanced suggestion would be to add your gayness on your LinkedIn. I’ve added the following on my profile intro. “…I blog about LGBT+ issues and work with companies that are LGBT+ champions or aspire one day to be…”.
I will always say I am gay in my job interviews. I will mention in my interests LGBT causes, being part of LGBT activities or will always find a way to bring my gayness in the discussion. I think it is very important for our community to be heard and for myself to be in an environment that I will be able to bring my authentic self every day. Try it.
2. Give at least 2 euros (or Francs) a month to charity
Every time you get a promotion increase your contribution by 2 euros (or francs) per month. Such a small contribution can make a huge impact and you will most probably barely notice it. It can also become a way of living and your small contribution can grow to a huge impact on the life of many. Charities and organisations I plan to support this year: AllOut, Teni, BelongTo.
3. Make LGBT friends of 20+ years age difference
Being LGBT can help you create friendships with people with a diverse background or age. Usually, in queer spaces, the diversity in the age is significantly wider than in similar “straight” places. Grab the opportunity.
4. Share good job opportunities with LGBT or allies
Mentor younger LGBT in your field and create a strong professional network of contacts. Our community needs many more successful members.
5. Learn about HIV, Prep and help end the stigma
Individuals with HIV who receive antiretroviral therapy (ART) and have achieved and maintained an undetectable viral load cannot sexually transmit the virus. Start here.
6. Help make substance abuse unsexy.
Talk to people you might think need help. Listen. Create, promote or join places without alcohol. Don’t push anyone to have one more drink or one more shot. If you need time to clear your head it’s perfectly OK to stay in and take care of yourself. Ask for help, no matter where you are there are many LGBT helplines that you can talk to and get all the support you need.
7. Learn about and support our trans community
Support with your vote, money or time the community. Read some stories
8. Follow LGBT artists, causes, NGOs, politicians
Local and global ones as well.
9. Participate in a protest
There are amazing things you can learn away from the screen.
10. Fuck/Make love to/date a fat, a fem, an Asian, a much older, a foreigner, etc.
Help end the discrimination. Let’s make the “No fats, no fems, no Asians, no blacks, no gingers, no oldies…” or whatever, a part of our ugly history. Check what you say on your social media profile. Read and expand your thinking. Talk to people who suffer from our “preferences”. Try a darkroom if you want to find out that we are all the same. Remember our eyes lie and our brain needs work to open up.
Someone said: “The mind is like a parachute it works best when opened.”
About QuestionMark.blog
QuestionMark.blog could be a Masters Programme of LGBT+ Opinions and Experiences. QuestionMarks or monthly surveys. where he asks his readers about a current issue and shares the answers back for all of you to read. Stories are personal. Some of them are made to inspire, shed light on things we don’t talk a lot about, or to entertain.
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