Allies: A Mixed Bag

It’s fine-ally time to talk about the Target fiasco. This week Leigh (@lshfoster) and Ellie (@elliebrigida) hang out to wrap up Pride month and Season 6 with a look at what it really takes to be a good queer ally in 2023. As anti-LGBTQ+ hate increases across the country, it is no longer enough for allies to just be okay with queer people existing. Corporations that were previously known for performatively turning their logo into a rainbow each June and selling Pride themed merchandise are now pulling back and removing what little support they had been showing in favor of appeasing the loud, fanatical homophobic and transphobic bigots. With our right to simply exist as we are under attack, it is so important for allies to show up and stand up for the queer community and to do so in ways that do not cause further harm. 

We are done accepting the bare minimum from so-called ‘allies’. Just going to Pride and posting pics of yourself day drinking in your Love Is Love t-shirt are not going to cut it anymore. The stakes are rising incredibly fast and true allies need to recognize the very real fear that queer people are currently experiencing. Depending on where you live, it may have never felt safe to be gay. However, now even the spaces typically known for being welcoming, safe environments for queer people are under attack. The safe havens that gays have been fleeing to from their small towns for decades are beginning to look a lot less safe. This Pride month has been a heavy one and has served as a stark and much needed reminder for many that Pride has always been and will always be a riot, a protest, and much more than rainbow capitalism wants it to be. 

It’s entirely possible to not be homophobic, but still not be a particularly good ally. Take Target for example. Historically, Target has not been homophobic and has long been viewed as ‘gay Walmart’. But this month, Target showed that when push comes to shove, they are not here for the community and are in fact a bad ally. If you think you are an ally but then balk at the first sign of backlash or resistance, you are not actually a good ally. Instead, a good ally is someone who is willing to be a little uncomfortable, willing to embrace change, and willing to show support even when that support is unpopular. 

Follow along on Twitter: Lez Hang Out (@lezhangoutpod) and answer our Q & Gay at the end of every episode. Leigh Holmes Foster (@lshfoster) and Ellie Brigida (@elliebrigida). You can also join us on Facebook.com/lezhangoutpod and follow along on Instagram (@lezhangoutpod). 

This #pridemonth and all year long don’t forget to support LGBTQ+ creators and small businesses directly. You can support Lez Hang Out while unlocking a bunch of awesome perks like access to our exclusive Discord community, monthly bonus episodes (there are already 11 of them to enjoy upon joining!), weekly ad free episodes, exclusive merch and more. Join us on Patreon at bit.ly/lezpatreon.

You can also support the podcast by buying our original merch at bit.ly/lezshop to proudly rep queer all year and purchasing our original songs for as little as $1 each on Bandcamp! 

Want to go on a dream vacation and make lifelong memories with a group of amazing queer people? Invest in your own joy this #pride and grab one of the last 3 spots on our #trovatrip to Croatia coming up this September! Get all the details at bit.ly/lezdocroatia.

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