Allyship: An action, not a label

#SwecoUK author: Elle Bartleet, Carbon Consultant

When I was asked to write a blog post on allyship to develop ally participation in Sweco’s LGBT+ group – Thrive@Sweco – I said yes without any hesitation. But as I began to draft the article, I started to think about what the true definition of allyship is. Naturally I resorted to Google and found it to be described as “The active support for the rights of a minority or marginalised group without being a member of it.” Here, I explore that a little more…

In an ideal world, being an ally to any minority group should come with no hesitation or deliberation. However, in reality this is not the case; I couldn’t help but feel disheartened that one of the reasons this blog post is being published is because LGBT+ allyship is not readily spoken about or encouraged enough. Ask yourself why not - I am still trying to understand.

Perhaps, as someone who is cisgendered (i.e., your gender identity is the same as your birth sex) and straight, this may stem from a feeling of ‘unrelatability’ to the LGBT+ community or the belief that it’s their problem to face, but is that not simply ignorance? As blunt as that may be ask yourself, would you help someone in need? Would you speak up for those whose voices are often silenced? Perhaps it comes down to a lack of understanding of why allyship is so important to the LGBT+ community - this is where I hope I can help.

I see an ally as being a friend on a personal level but also more crucially, a friend to a community that needs support. Of course, this does not come from a place of pity, but sadly is the reality. Whilst the LGBT+ community is growing stronger by the day, there still remains discrimination against the LGBT+ community across the world, within the UK, and in workplaces - more than 35% of LGBT+ people have hidden their sexual orientation and/or gender identity at work for fear of discrimination.

Everyone has different styles and preferences and don’t get me wrong; it is a journey and at times may involve you being outside your ‘comfort’ zone, but it is nothing compared to the journey or discomfort that those in the LGBT+ community have to experience (still) in 2024. I know there is more I can do, learn, and show up to but I do believe making an active choice to be an ally is the most important action to undertake. With the LGBT+ community, allies develop the platform for activism to fight homophobia and transphobia, crucial elements in ensuring an equal and accepting society for everyone.

My name is Elle, I am a proud ally of the LBGT+ community and I will always support my amazing friends, family members and colleagues at Sweco that identify as LGBT+. I hope this blog encourages you to be as proud to be an ally as I am and support the LGBT+ community.