be not afraid
help is on the way!
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Whether I want to deal with it or not, accepting gay people is a religious issue for me. Like many, I’m in that category of ‘Sure, I have a gay friend’ but often find myself trying to not think about what it means when my acceptance of my friend is in conflict with what my religion teaches me about him. And for me, not dealing with it means not talking about it with people from my church, even when it would mean speaking up on behalf of my friend. I avoid it because it is just too challenging and it is bound to end in an argument. I’m not proud of that, and I want a way to respond differently.
Andrew, 39
Sound familiar?
We’ve got some really good news for you: You’re not alone.
Welcome to Straight for Equality.
Straight for Equality is a project that started in 2007 as part of PFLAG National,
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the original family and ally organization to the gay, lesbian, bi, and transgender (GLBT) community. The premise of the Straight for Equality project is pretty basic: There are many people out there who fall into the “I have a gay (or lesbian, or bi, or trans) friend and I want to be supportive” category, but don’t necessarily know what “be supportive” means—or, for that matter, if their support is even wanted.Our response is simple: Yes, your support is wanted and very much needed. More importantly, we can help you learn more about what your GLBT friends are facing, work through any of
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PFLAG National is really Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. Kind of long, right? That’s why it is in this footnote. You can learn more about PFLAG by visiting www.pflag.org.
preface
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the challenges you may face to being an ally, and find ways to demonstrate your support, no matter where you are on your ally journey.
And we can help you do it in a unique way.
Straight for Equality isn’t about politics or politicians, radical activists, or peacekeeping pacifists. And when it comes to faith communities, it isn’t about redefining what you or your community believes. It is about changing the way we treat each other. It is about creating a place where all people who care about equality can honestly and openly discuss and remove the barriers they face to becoming an ally, get specific recommendations for action, and learn how to assist others—whether friends, family members, coworkers, or community members—in becoming agents of change, on their own terms.
Got questions?
We’ll do our best to answer them here. You can also find us online at our website, www.straightforequality.org, as well as on Facebook (www.facebook.com/S4Equality) and Twitter (@S4Equality). These are just a few ways to keep connecting with us and with other allies on this journey.
Got concerns?
We imagine so. This is a big topic and one that deserves your time, thought, and, for many, prayer. Becoming an ally should be a contemplative and thorough process, and considering what this means in light of your personal beliefs is part of that journey.
Don’t know how to get involved?
Throughout this guide we’ll offer some suggestions for places where you’ll be able to learn more and maybe even become a little more involved than you are today. Check out page 3 for further details on our Equality Guideposts.
Ready to go?
Then keep reading.