Straight But Not Narrow
If you need to talk to someone, this is the place to go. The SBNN is an amazing organization that is working dilligently to end suicide among LGBTQ youth.
Who Is SBNN?
The LGBT community is actively fighting for their rights, which can’t but inspire. Many organizations have shown their support for their goals and beliefs. And one such organization is Straight But Not Narrow. SBNN is a non-profit for straight youth and young adults. The key objective of this organization is to promote a positive attitude and respect toward their LGBT peers. But together with The NOH8 Campaign, another charitable organization, they also do a lot to support equal rights among every person, regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, or race.
SBNN started its existence back in the spring of 2011. It was co-founded by a well-known Canadian actor Avan Jogia, who is famous for his roles in the series VICTORiOUS, Ghost Wars, Twisted, etc., and his friends Andre Pochon and Heather Wilk from Cause Creative Marketing, LLC. It has had support from many celebrity advocates, including the Hunger Games star Josh Hutcherson, who encourage people to speak up about their support of the LGBT community.
Straight Not Narrow ambassadors actively fight the stigma about being vocal and supporting what’s right. Every one of them believes that every person must be allowed to be their authentic self, and no one should make them feel inadequate about it. Everybody, whether straight or LGBT, has the right to be and feel awesome! The key message SBNN tries to spread is, “LGBTQ or Straight? Just be U!”
The SBNN Version
Just Be U, and encourage everyone else to do the same. People should simply be allowed to be the most authentic version of themselves, without the risk of being made to feel that they are anything less than awesome. I am awesome, and you are awesome. We just make sure everyone hears it once in a while. Whether you’re L,G,B,T,Q or S, the most important letter to be is U. Maybe you like girls, maybe you like guys, maybe you like both, maybe you like neither. What difference does it really make? There’s a whole lot more to a person than who they date. We’re all different. We believe that those differences make us interesting.
What Is A LGBT Ally?
A LGBT ally is someone who identifies as heterosexual, but who wants to support the LCBT community. An ally says, I accept the LGBT community, but I refuse to accept the unfair treatment this community receives. An ally is a friend and an advocate.
Why Is It Important To Have LBGT Allies?
As my fellow blogger Eric Grollman has said: “Indeed, it should not solely be the responsibility of LGBT people to fight homophobia and transphobia… In fact, it is sometimes easier and much more powerful for straight and cisgender people to speak out — just look at what a difference Obama’s explicit support for same-sex marriage has had.” Allies turn the conversation to one of rights and equality, providing a perspective that may be less easily dismissed as individualistic. Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) describes allies as “some of the most effective and powerful voices of the LGBT movement.” Allies provide invaluable support to their friends and family members, especially when people face discrimination after sharing their sexual and gender identities.
What Do Allies Do?
Kinsey ConfidentialCommon Problems Straight But Not Narrow: How To Be An Active Ally By MARGO MULLINAX Posted October 11, 2012 E-mail Email Icon Print Print Icon Reddit Digg StumbleUpon Delicious Bookmark How can you be straight and support the LGBT community? What does it really mean to be an LGBT ally? What can we do politically to advocate for LGBT rights? Rainbow Lorrikeets Photo: Sheba_Als Like birds of a feather- LGBT and allies need to stick together Celebrating National Coming Out Day, the words from one of my favorite bumper stickers rings in my ears: “One of my deepest regrets is that God did not make me a lesbian.” While I wanted to write a blog celebrating my friends and family members who have taken the brave step of coming out, I was hesitant to speak as a heterosexual woman. Where is my voice in the conversation about creating an open and honest dialogue about sexual identities? It felt a little funny to write about an experience I have never had and never will. So, today I am coming out as a ‘straight supporter’ (a term coined by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation) and a lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) ally. I hope to encourage us all to think about how we can support the LGBT community- from a daily basis to becoming a true advocate.
What is a LGBT ally? A LGBT ally is someone who identifies as heterosexual, but who wants to support the LCBT community. An ally says, I accept the LGBT community, but I refuse to accept the unfair treatment this community receives. An ally is a friend and an advocate. Why is it important to have LBGT allies? As my fellow blogger Eric Grollman has said: “Indeed, it should not solely be the responsibility of LGBT people to fight homophobia and transphobia… In fact, it is sometimes easier and much more powerful for straight and cisgender people to speak out — just look at what a difference Obama’s explicit support for same-sex marriage has had.” Allies turn the conversation to one of rights and equality, providing a perspective that may be less easily dismissed as individualistic.
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Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) describes allies as “some of the most effective and powerful voices of the LGBT movement.” Allies provide invaluable support to their friends and family members, especially when people face discrimination after sharing their sexual and gender identities. What do allies do? Allies can do a range of things, small actions make a big difference. Allies, first and foremost, challenge stereotypes. One way to act as an ally is to challenge broad generalizations and call into question hostile jokes. Check out the Think Before you Speak Campaign which encourages people to delete ‘that’s so gay’ from their vocabulary. Also, the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) has Ally Week in American schools from Oct 15-29. Host an event. As an ally, talk with your friends about sexuality and gender equality, and why it is important.
Facing discrimination literally hurts the health of your LGBT friends while acceptance helps. I engaged my cousin in a Facebook discussion about why marriage equality was important for women in general and an important public health issues. It wasn’t easy to engage him publicly, and I am not sure I made an impact, but it was a start. For more tips, the Human Right Campaign offers a guide to being a straight supporter and Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) publishes a “Guide to Being a Straight Supporter” and provides resources for faith communities interested in supporting their LGBT brethren.
Simply put: Be a good friend. Listen to your LGBT friends. Hear what your friends have to say. One of my good friends who is a lesbian helped me understand how she felt disregarded when I acted like oral sex wasn’t as valid of a sexual experience as penetrative sex. I have tried to share her pain at her mother’s reaction to her bringing home a female partner, offer support, and brainstorm for solutions.
Making Change For The Youngest
As an LGBT ally, you can also encourage your own school to become an LGBTQ school that supports students who identify as LGBT and promotes LGBT-inclusive education. It is particularly important to do for the younger members of the LGBTQ+ community, as they suffer the most. It is hard being a teenager by itself, but being an LGBTQ+ teen is even more difficult.
Did you know that only a little over half of all gay and transgender students feel safe in their schools? Because of bullying and lack of support from peers as well as teachers, LGBTQ+ students are twice more likely to be depressed, feel anxious, and have panic attacks. They are also three times more likely to inflict harm on themselves. But as an LGBTQ+ supporter, ally, and advocate, you can help change that.
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The situation in colleges and universities is definitely better. There are way more LGBT friendly colleges out there. Primarily because young people nowadays are not afraid to make their voices heard and fight for their rights. They are also vocal about what’s right and openly support members of LGBTQ in schools, with many of them being LGBTQ+ themselves. As a straight supporter, you can follow their example and try to help schools and colleges that aren’t that inclusive adopt change and become LGBTQ+ friendly and supportive.
To support LGBTQ students in schools, it is important to advocate for the adoption of relevant policies and a zero-tolerance attitude toward homophobic language and bullying. You can borrow appropriate practices from top LGBT colleges. As an LGBTQ supporter and ally, you can train school staff or establish LGBT organizations for students.
More Than A Friend: Being An Advocate
On this National Coming Out day, I urge everyone to contemplate the significance of being an advocate for the LGBT community and the political actions that allies can take. As an ally, it is crucial to actively combat discrimination. My discussion with a close heterosexual friend about delaying marriage until everyone has the right to it made me ponder if exercising our political power could bring about actual change. This year's National Coming Out day theme, "Come Out. Vote." emphasizes the importance of utilizing our political voice. By taking a step forward, we can make a difference. Visit essaywriters.ai for more information on social and political issues.
Before you vote, though, be informed. Look at the legislation that has passed recently on behalf of the LGBT community, or check out how your elected officials have voted on equality issues. Be informed and don’t support businesses that aren’t. Make your allied voice heard. PLAG provides contact information and an easy format for contacting your elected officials. Take time today to sign the PLAG “Straight for Equality” pledge or the GLEN “Ally Pledge”. You can also join the Facebookpage and post photos with your “I am straight for equality because …” statements.