Contributed By Divya Vattikuti
Section 377 decriminalize chesaaka, many people around us came out of their closet and disclosed about their Sexual orientation. Gay jokes normalize chesina mana society, manaki telisina vallu tama gender identity disclose chesinappudu ela behave cheyyalo maatram cheppaledhu. It often happens that If someone around us come out as an LGBTQ member, we don’t know how to be a good ally to them. Mana friend, or mana office colleague, mana family member, or we ourselves, ila if anyone comes out as an LGBTQ member, the first thing we need to do is ‘Accept them as they are’.
Who is an Ally?
Asalu ‘Ally’ ante evaru ani adigithe, the simple answer is “A good Human being.” Manishini manishi la chuse person is an Ally. Someone who don’t discriminate another person on basis of Sexual orientation and be a support for them is an Ally.
How to be a Good Ally
RESEARCH
If someone you know came out as queer member, and you don’t know what they are meaning, do your bit of research before giving any judgments. Basic ga vallu cheppina daani gurinchi ardham chesukovadaaniki try cheyyadam. For starters, LGBTQ refers to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender, Queer. Try to understand gender identity of your Friend.
RESPECT THEM
Stop using stigmatizing words to call them that we heard growing up. Instead use the pronouns that they are comfortable with.
LISTEN TO THEM
Asalu vaallu ela feel avtunnaro vaalla maatallo vinandi. Be a comfort space for them. Vaallu cheppedhi vini judge cheyyakunda, try to understand them.
SPEAK UP FOR THEM
Vaalla kosam meeru unnaru ani vaallaki ardham ayyela cheppandi. Mee chuttu unna vaallaki LGBTQ community gurinchi ardham avvakapothe, you try to explain them.
GET COMFORTABLE ABOUT IT
May be mee life lo ippati varaku you never came across a queer person. Kothha vishayalu ardham chesukovadaaniki konchem uncomfortable undocchu. But make yourself comfortable about this. Make yourself comfortable enough to support them, stand for them, and speak up for them. Super Deluxe lo Rasakutty ki valla Nanna ammayila endhuku untundho poorthiga teliyadhu. But he accepted his father in every way and loves him unconditionally.
Learn from your mistakes
It happens that teliso teliyako you might have cracked jokes on queer people or laughed on such jokes. But be the change. And learn from your mistakes. You might have called them names. Or you might have been insensitive to them. Be a positive human and try to learn from your mistakes to be a better Ally.
It is important for us to create a positive space for people around us. Trying to understand and discover their Sexual orientation is no sin or mistake. Let that sink into our minds. Rasakutty laanti chinna pillodu tana Nanna ela unna accept cheyyagaliginappudu, matured ga aalochinchagalige manam cheyyalsina chinna act is to Accept people around us as they are. Because at the end Love is Love.
