An introduction to being an

LGBT+ ally
Lewisham West and Penge CLP
Workshop structure
1. Ground rules (1 minute)
2. Terminology exercise (10 minutes)
3. Forms of oppression (5 minutes)
4. [L] [G] [B] [T] [+] ? (10 minutes)
5. What makes a good ally? (15 minutes)
6. Discussion (20 minutes)
Ground rules
1. Be open minded
2. Respect privacy and confidentiality
3. Ask questions
Terminology
● In your groups, try to match the terms to the
definitions using your glossary

● Asking about language is ok!

Forms of oppression
● Ideological - Values, beliefs, ideas, narratives
● Institutional - Laws and policies, practices and customs,
invisible barriers
● Interpersonal - Harassment, bullying, hate crime,
microaggressions
● Internalised - Feelings of inferiority, guilt, shame, low
self-esteem
 52%
Percentage of young LGBT people who have
self-harmed (compared to 25% of non-LGBT young
people). Source: National LGBT Survey.
 68%
Percentage of LGBT people who say they avoid
holding hands in public for fear of a negative reaction
from others. Source: National LGBT Survey.
[L] [G] [B] [T] [+]

● What do L, G, B and T stand for?

● What is the + ?
What makes a strong ally?
● Active listener
● Able to learn from mistakes
● Willing to learn
● Respects privacy
● Takes responsibility for their actions
● Can acknowledge their own privileges
● Speaks up in difficult situations
Questions and Discussion
 Lewisham West & Penge CLP | LGBT+ Allies Workshop | 7 February 2019

Glossary

ACE/ASEXUAL A sexual orientation generally characterized by not feeling

sexual attraction or a desire for partnered sexuality. It is
distinct from celibacy, which is the deliberate abstention
from sexual activity. Some asexual people do have sex.
There are many diverse ways of being asexual.
BISEXUAL A person whose primary sexual and affectional orientation
is toward people of the same and other genders, or
towards people regardless of their gender.
CIS A gender identity that society deems to match the person’s
assigned sex at birth. As a prefix, it means "on this side
of" or "not across."
GAY A sexual and affectional orientation toward people of the
same gender.

GENDER FLUID A person whose gender identification and presentation

shifts, whether within or outside of societal, gender-based
expectations. Being fluid in motion between two or more
genders.
GENDER A social construct used to classify a person as a man,
woman, or some other identity. Different from the sex one
is assigned at birth.
INTERSECTIONALITY A term to describe the way that multiple systems of
oppression interact in the lives of those with multiple
marginalized identities.
INTERSEX Adjective used to describe the experience of naturally (that
is, without any medical intervention) developing primary or
secondary sex characteristics that do not fit neatly into
society's definitions of male or female. Intersex is an
umbrella term and there are around 20 variations of
 Lewisham West & Penge CLP | LGBT+ Allies Workshop | 7 February 2019

intersex that are included in this umbrella term.

LESBIAN A woman whose primary sexual and affectional orientation
is toward people of the same gender.

NON-BINARY Identifying as either having a gender which is in-between

or beyond the two categories ‘man’ and ‘woman, as
fluctuating between ‘man’ and woman’, or as having no
gender, either permanently or some of the time.
PANSEXUAL Term used to describe people who have romantic, sexual
or affectional desire for people of all genders.

QUEER Historically, queer has been used as an epithet/slur

against people whose gender, gender expression and/or
sexuality do not conform to dominant expectations. Some
people have reclaimed the word queer and self identify as
such. For some, this reclamation is a celebration of not
fitting into norms/being “abnormal.”
SEX A medically constructed categorization. Sex is often
assigned based on the appearance of the genitalia, either
in ultrasound or at birth.
TRANS* Adjective used most often as an umbrella term, and
frequently abbreviated to trans. It describes a wide range
of identities and experiences of people whose gender
identity and/or expression differs from conventional
expectations based on their assigned sex at birth.

Main source: ​https://lgbtqia.ucdavis.edu/educated/glossary