3 ways you can be a better ally and support Pride in a meaningful way

June signals the start of Pride month—a time where people of all backgrounds come together to support the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, and intersex (LGBTQI+) community and their progress towards equality. Although Pride might look a little different this year, there are still plenty of opportunities to celebrate Pride month digitally with people around the globe.

Microsoft has been advocating for LGBTQI+ inclusion since 1989, and while we've had some success, we are not done. This month, LGBTQI+ employees and allies at Microsoft discussed the best ways for everyone to celebrate Pride meaningfully by lifting the voices of the LGBTQI+ community, helping causes, and embracing visibility year-round.

1. Support LGBTQI+ people and organizations.

Allyship is a journey of constantly learning, reflecting, checking assumptions and helping others. You can be a valuable ally by keeping an open mind, being curious, and making an ongoing commitment to learn and grow. Don't be afraid to make a few mistakes along the way. Here are a few useful tips to help you along your own personal journey.

• Understand the issues. Allies are most supportive when they truly understand the issues that affect the LGBTQI+ community. Learn about and follow LGBTQI activists and icons, check out your local LGBTQI+ center, or read books like The ABCs of LGBT+ by Ashley Mardell and Trans Allyship Workbook: Building Skills to Support Trans People in Our Lives by Davey Shlasko.
• Thoughtfully consume content. Support and watch inclusive media. Choose movies like Moonlight or TV shows like Pose that are respectful to LGBTQI+ stories. It's another way for allies to understand how the LGBTQI+ community experiences the world.
• Donate time or money. Show that you care by reaching out to global nonprofits to volunteer or financially support LGBTQI+ causes like Outright Action International, Campaign Against Homophobia, Columbia Diversa, or Rainbow Youth.
• Advocate for LGBTQI+ education. Human Rights Campaign's 2018 LGBTQ Youth Report states that only 26% of LGBTQ youth feel safe at school. You can help by supporting and advocating for LGBTQI+ education in schools as well as policies that help protect this young community from discrimination.
• Don't assume. Rather than assuming someone's sexual orientation or gender identity, respectfully ask questions like "What's your pronoun?" or "How do you identify?" You can also use gender-neutral terms like "partner" when asking about a spouse or partner.
• Show your solidarity. Even small gestures of visible allyship can mean a lot. Wear a pin that champions support, display a Pride flag, or use a Pride-themed template.

2. Have meaningful conversations.

Being an ally means knowing that allyship is a constant learning process, and there will be times when you'll experience uncomfortable or challenging conversations. Remember to:

• Listen with empathy.
• Pause when you feel yourself reacting to something.
• Think and ask yourself why you are reacting that way.
• Ask respectfully.