In contrast to microaggressions, microaffirmations are little ways that you can affirm someone’s identity; recognize and validate their experience and expertise; build confidence; develop trust; foster belonging; and support someone in their career. Microaffirmations can help mitigate and disrupt the harmful effects of historical oppression, systemic inequity, cultural marginalization and personal biases. When an ally takes on the role of the Sponsor, they vocally support the work of colleagues from underrepresented groups in all contexts, but specifically in situations that will help boost those colleagues’ standing and reputations.

Hey Kid, Choose Your Battles" by Eric Smith- As a child who was bullied in middle school, I could relate to the message in this essay. I have heard the line choose your battles a lot. Imagine your privilege is a heavy boot that keeps you from feeling when you’re stepping on someone’s feet or they’re stepping on yours, while oppressed people have only sandals. If someone says, “ouch! You’re stepping on my toes,” how do you react? When someone proposes a good idea, repeat it and give them credit. For example: “I agree with Helen’s recommendation for improving our net promoter score.” Do not take credit for the labor of those who are marginalized and did the work before you stepped into the picturea good, diverse anthology that touches on a lot of topics and starts a lot of important conversations. i think it will be most helpful for people just getting into activism and allyship. David G. Smith is an associate professor in the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School. He is the coauthor, with W. Brad Johnson, of Good Guys: How Men Can Be Better Allies for Women in the Workplace and Athena Rising: How and Why Men Should Mentor Women. Reacting in a fair and equitable way isn’t about learning arbitrary rules or being a doormat. Rather, it's about restoring and maintaining dignity and respect for everyone involved - both the person who is hurt, and you. Still, it’s hard to remember in the moment, because these issues are so charged in our society. As such, it may be helpful to reframe the situation so that you don’t feel defensive. This is What it Feels Like" by A.J. Sass- What a wonderful essay from this author and how they came to accept their sexuality and themselves. You could begin with doing something as easy as reading a glossary of terms and teaching yourself the right language to use when talking with LGBT+ people. It’s a tiny but crucial step you can take to educate yourself and make sure you are using the terminology to be respectful to everyone around you, and help yourself to feel more confident when discussing LGBT+ issues. 2. Educate yourself on the history of LGBT activism

Apologies are social contracts that hold you accountable. They tell others that you are taking responsibility, are open to the consequences of your actions, and plan to do better in the future. Armistice Day: A Collection of Remembrance - Spark Interest and Educate Children about Historical MomentsAllies: Real Talk About Showing Up, Screwing Up, And Trying Again” by Shakirah Bourne and Dana Alison Levy is a welcome addition to the expanding space surrounding how to be an ally. Through the lens of 16 the different pieces numerous issues were explored. Things such as race, gender identity, disability. Each piece was told in an authentic way that posed important questions for readers to reflect upon. While it may be presented as a book for Young Adults, I think that it serves as a great introduction for teens (high school) and adults of all ages on what allyship is all about. I really can't say enough about how incredible this anthology is and what a great job editors Dana Alison Levy and Shakirah Bourne did in curating a diverse array of experiences. There are essays about racism, transracial adoption, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, colonialism, feminism, and so much more. This wasn't always the easiest read, nor did I expect it to be. Many of the essays forced me to think about my own privilege and how I can use it to advocate for and uplift the voices of others.

It’s easy to imagine that when you come across discrimination or hateful language you will whir into action, righting wrongs and effortlessly challenging the behaviour and views of people speaking and acting in a hurtful manner. The reality can be very different and truthfully, sometimes standing up against discrimination can be an intimidating experience. The important thing is to let your voice be heard and although it’s not always easy, these are situations where being an ally really counts. It’s important to let those with bigoted views know that they are not in a world where they can marginalise or bully those that need our support - and this is really the essence of what being an ally is all about. Further information an ally has to do constant self-interrogation because it's hard to correct a bias that you don't know exists." (pg. 101) There are no easy answers, but this book helps you ask better questions. Because we're all in this together. And we all need allies.To be an LGBT ally is easy. If you agree in equality and fair treatment in society of people who identify as LGBT then already you are an ally. As you sit and read this you can bask in the warm glow and sense of self-satisfaction that you are a force for good in the world. Well done. This post is part of TED’s “How to Be a Better Human” series, each of which contains a piece of helpful advice from people in the TED community; browse through all the posts here. From Author, to Ally, to Co-Conspirator by I. W. Gregorio - Dr. Gregorio is a urologist and author, who describes her experience with being an ally to the intersex community. In her essay, she provides information about intersex people, medical paternalism, and non-consensual surgeries. She also discusses the complexities of being a non-intersex person who wrote a novel about an intersex character which increased visibility but also might not have been her story to tell. Gregorio plugs Sol Santana's Just Ash as an #Own Voices book with an intersex main character. Gregorio knows that she's finally moved from ally to "co-conspirator" "because by fighting for what I believe in, I've pissed off many of my doctor friends and colleagues, possibly to the point of damaging my professional reputation."