An ally is someone who supports and gives help to others. With Trans Day of Visibility around the corner, it’s more pertinent than ever to discuss good allyship. A lot of transgender people face discrimination and hate crimes regularly. We live in 2023 yet transphobia still lingers in places that you wouldn’t think could exist. 

But in the fight against transphobia, we need good allies by our side. 

A good ally is someone who adapts language to be inclusive of everyone, who actively supports the transgender community, who advocates when they can. A good ally corrects others when they use the wrong pronouns, is willing to be part of difficult conversations, and isn’t afraid to admit when they’re wrong. A good ally never assumes someone’s gender. 

Owning up to our mistakes and holding ourselves accountable may seem bold, but it can mean so much to the trans community. For example, if you previously assumed that all trans people had surgery as part of their transition, but later educated yourself and learned that this wasn’t the case, good allyship would be holding conversations with other cisgender people and admitting your mistake. You’re allowing yourself to grow as a person, educating others, and breaking down those barriers. 

The burden of educating everyone should not be on trans people, and allies can play a big part in breaking down stigma and stereotypes. The trans community is so diverse, yet we are a small minority of the LGBTQ+ community. Having allies in our corner advocating and including us as part of the wider conversation and making sure our voices are heard is what we need.