Straight Allies

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STRAIGHT ALLIES AT EVERY LEVEL 38 5CHAPTER <strong>Straight</strong> people at any level in an organisation, even those without management responsibilities, can have a significant positive impact on people’s behaviour and help to make their workplace more gayfriendly. The motivations for these straight allies often stem from personal values. You just do it because you believe in it – you have to. If you don’t stand up for what you believe, you’re just a spineless jellyfish. And really what’s the worst that can happen if you step in with a few words to say something’s not right? For me, that doesn’t take a hell of a lot of balls. Martin, Graphic Designer I just don’t think that people should be treated any differently just because they may not be heterosexual. I don’t see that it makes them any different to anyone else. Louise Bailey, Permitting Officer, Environment Agency
Many are inspired to stand up for gay equality at work because they have gay friends or family-members. Members of my family are gay – they’re not an alien race. They’re my closest family members in every way. I’d stick up for my sister if she was being picked on. I don’t think about it. I just do it because you believe in it. I don’t go out of my way to be a guardian of gay rights – that’s not what it’s about. It’s just instinctive. Martin, Graphic Designer My inspiration is my friends. I feel privileged to have gay friends because I see a side of society that a lot of straight people don’t. They have this illusion that gay people are ‘like this and they do this’ but they’re actually not. My gay friends taught me a lot of things so I feel I should return that to them in the best possible way I can. Alex Little, IT Manager Some meanwhile recognise that being a straight ally has helped distinguish them from their colleagues. ➜ TIP Talk to your gay friends and colleagues about what challenges they face at work It does give you some visibility that you care about it. So from a completely non-altruistic perspective it’s an opportunity to be noticed, to show that you care and to be involved in things that aren’t your day to day work, but which are still incredibly important and valued by the organisation. Corey Dixon, Associate, The Parthenon Group STRAIGHT ALLIES AT EVERY LEVEL 39
Page 1: STRAIGHT ALLIES How they help creat
Page 4 and 5: STRAIGHT ALLIES How they help creat
Page 6 and 7: INTRODUCTION 2 ‘Straight ally’
Page 8 and 9: 4 Being gay in the workplace Many l
Page 10 and 11: 6 It gives it greater credence by t
Page 12 and 13: 8 ‘‘ The explicit reason why I
Page 14 and 15: AT THE TOP 10 2CHAPTER Leaders at t
Page 16 and 17: 12 ‘‘ You’ve got to have an o
Page 18 and 19: 14 ➜ TIP Make your support for ga
Page 20 and 21: 16 Straight allies also believe tha
Page 22 and 23: 18 Formal structures help straight
Page 24 and 25: SENIOR MANAGERS 20 3CHAPTER Straigh
Page 26 and 27: 22 Straight allies in senior leader
Page 28 and 29: 24 Straight allies in senior positi
Page 30 and 31: 26 ‘‘ I believe my role is to f
Page 32 and 33: LINE MANAGERS 28 4CHAPTER Straight
Page 34 and 35: 30 Good line managers feel responsi
Page 36 and 37: 32 ‘‘ A lot of people will say
Page 38 and 39: 34 I have a gay member of staff who
Page 40 and 41: ‘‘ I’m only a little manager,
Page 44 and 45: ‘‘ It affects everyone so it’
Page 46 and 47: 42 I was on the help desk and a col
Page 48 and 49: TOP TEN TIPS 44 1 2 3 4 5 6 GET TO
Page 50: Stonewall workplace@stonewall.org.u

Straight Allies

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