Porteous: Allies must 'level up' to accomplices in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights | Opinion
Densil R. Porteous (he/they) serves as CEO of Pride Fund 1 and executive director of Stonewall Columbus. With more than 20 years of experience, Porteous has been deeply involved in volunteer and executive roles working to promote equity and access.
In the fight for LGBTQ+ equality, I believe there is a crucial distinction between being an ally and becoming an accomplice.
When I first introduce this idea, people often appear perplexed, but as they come to understand its meaning, a wash of brief panic often crosses faces — it's a big ask … but is it, when we’re fighting for lives and liberation?
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An ally is someone who says, "I am here for you"; an accomplice is someone who says, "I am here with you." An ally will be there after you've been bloodied; an accomplice is there, getting bloodied with you.
Let me be clear: We are grateful for the allyship that has carried us thus far in our fight for LGBTQ+ equality, equity and liberation. The support from our cisgender and/or straight heteronormative allies has played a significant role in our progress. But the battle continues, and the war has intensified.
In this time and space, there is an urgent need to level up to a new platform of allyship — a level that truly embodies being an accomplice. When hate groups and domestic terrorists increase their vitriol, stepping back is not an option. If our allies retreat, those groups win, and the limitations of allyship become apparent.
Accomplices understand that doing the right thing can be challenging, but they also know that doing the right thing is always the right thing. They embrace the discomfort, the risks and the sacrifices because they recognize that progress requires collective action. Accomplices don't just stand beside us; they stand shoulder to shoulder, if not in front of us, facing the fire together.
Every day, I leave my home as the most authentic, Black, queer, intersectional person I can be — because it's the right thing to do.
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Am I afraid that the more authentically I live my life that it can be taken away from me? Yes. But by living authentically, I not only honor my own truth but also inspire others to do the same. In inspiring even one person to live their most authentic life, I may be helping to save a life.
It's crucial to acknowledge the intersectionality of our identities and experiences. As a Black, queer, intersectional person, I understand that our fight for LGBTQ+ rights is deeply intertwined with the fight against racial injustice and other forms of oppression. Accomplices must recognize and address these overlapping layers of discrimination to create lasting change.
To transition from ally to accomplice, we must go beyond passive support. Accomplices actively educate themselves on LGBTQ+ issues, challenge their own biases, and amplify marginalized voices. They show up at LGBTQ+ events, support LGBTQ+-led organizations, and engage in conversations about LGBTQ+ rights with friends, family and colleagues. They stand firm even when the going seems to get tough.
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The time has come for our allies to level up — to become accomplices in the fight for LGBTQ+ equality, equity and liberation. Together, we can face the challenges, weather the storms, and dismantle the barriers that obstruct our progress — we’ve seen success among accomplices before. Let us move forward as accomplices, unified in our commitment to creating a world where everyone can thrive as their authentic selves.
Remember, the path from ally to accomplice is not easy, but it is necessary. I invite you to stand beside me and the queer community in this transformation — it’s time for more allies to become true accomplices in the pursuit of a more inclusive and just society.
Densil R. Porteous (he/they) serves as CEO of Pride Fund 1 and executive director of Stonewall Columbus. With more than 20 years of experience, Porteous has been deeply involved in volunteer and executive roles working to promote equity and access.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Porteous: Allies must become accomplices in fight for LGBTQ rights
