Supporting the LGBTQIA+ Community Throughout the Year
Throughout June, we continue to celebrate Pride Month and the LGBTQIA+ community, and share resources on how we can help the community as allies throughout the rest of the year. We also provide some history on LGBTQIA+ rights around the world and offer resources to support LGBTQIA+ students looking to study abroad.
Each year during June, we celebrate Pride month and the history of the LGBTQIA+ community, but we should also work to support those who identify as LGBTQIA+ throughout the rest of the year.
Street art from Dublin seen during a summer Pride parade
Ideas for Supporting the LGBTQIA+ Community Year-Round
Whether you identify as LGBTQIA+ or instead consider yourself an ally, there are many ways to show your support for the community at any time. Here are some ways to do just that:
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If comfortable, share your pronouns: sharing your personal pronouns in a visible place like your email signature allows others to address you as you would like to be addressed and can help them avoid assuming your gender identity. The Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) provides a useful guide on pronouns.
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Donate and/or volunteer: donating money, especially on a recurring monthly basis, is a great way to help organizations that directly work to support members of the LGBTQIA+ community. You can also donate your time by volunteering with them! Although by no means an inclusive list, below are a few ideas for charities and nonprofits to support (make sure to also check out groups local to you!):
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Learn more! There is so much to learn about the history and current state of the LGBTQIA+ community, and thanks to the internet, this information is easier to access than ever. Here are some resources if you're not sure where to get started:
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A glossary of LGBTQ terms, from Out and Equal
Marchers in the Dublin Pride parade
Learn About the Global LGBTQIA+ Community and Support LGBTQIA+ Students Studying Abroad
There are also many ways to learn about the LGBTQIA+ community outside of the U.S. Here are a few places to get started:
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Gay Rights and LGBTQI movements in Europe from the Digital Encyclopedia of European History
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The State of LGBTQIA+ Rights in Latin America from the Wilson Center
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African sexuality and the legacy of imported homophobia from Stonewall
.jpg "Sydney Light Rail")
Finally, there are many ways to support LGBTQIA+ students who plan to study abroad, including through donating to the Fund for Education Abroad Rainbow Scholarship. The FEA Rainbow Scholarship “awards deserving lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQIA+) students who aim to participate in high-quality, rigorous education abroad programs.” Learn more about the scholarship and donate here.
If you are a student who identifies as LGBTQIA+, you can also check out our full list of resources and LGBTQIA+ study abroad alumni experiences here.
Please join us in advocating for and celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community year-round!