Five Active Steps to be a Trans Ally

If you read articles on how to be a trans ally, you will find lots of advice on using the correct pronouns, not dead-naming, trying to understand the correct terminology and being willing to apologise when you get things wrong. All these points are good and highly recommended. However, these are all things that can be done largely in private or that can just be passed off as polite behaviour.

If I work in a café, I may call a transman 'Sir' because this is what is expected rather than because I support the transgender cause. If I work in a retail shop, I may help a transwoman try on and purchase a nice dress because I am happy to take their money rather than because I support the transgender cause. These things are no different to me serving a Muslim customer or having a Jewish friend, even though, as a lapsed Christian, I disagree with their faiths.

One great feature of Pride events in the United Kingdom (and other countries in the West) is the number of corporate sponsors. I am obviously delighted that companies are willing to part with their money to help run these fabulous events. At the same time, I think it is very hypocritical that in countries that are not pro-LGBT, such as countries in the Middle East, these same companies are strangely silent in LGBT support. For me, being a trans ally is actively supporting the transgender community in the public arena and not being ashamed to do so in any context.

As a member of a well-known transgender social networking site, I have lost count of the number of male 'admirers' who are very happy to visit members of the trans community in private but will not be seen out with a transwoman or crossdresser in public. What kind of support is that? It stinks of self-interest and shame.

Here are my recommendations to show you genuinely support the trans-community. There'll be many other practical examples, but this is my recommendation of where to start.