Last updated on May 13th, 2023 at 11:05 am
Two Black, queer women are sharing a meal with their child. They sit in a brightly lit room. One parent is cutting lettuce for a salad while the other is holding up a chile pepper, with the child looking interested in the chile.
I recently assisted an organization’s Employee Resource Group (ERG) by curating a learning path on LinkedIn Learning on LGBTQ+ Allyship. I love that LinkedIn Learning allows users in organizations to be designated as a Curator to build custom learning journeys.
The only problem is: the learning paths are only available for folks within that organization. Like, I get it… but also… it severely limits the audience. And let’s face it: we need as many allies as we can get for our LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning) community.
Don’t have access to LinkedIn Learning? I can offer you one free month of LinkedIn Learning. If you’ve already taken advantage of this offer previously, you can get a free student or organizational membership (if your company offers it). You can also get a free membership through public libraries in the U.S. and Canada!
The learning path I’ve recreated here is broken up into 3 sections. Clicking on each heading with the lesson name will take you to each video lesson within LinkedIn Learning. I’ve included individual , downloadable resources for each section. You may also download a zipped file of all resources.
Table of Contents
LGBTQ+ Allyship LinkedIn Learning Path
Gain a foundational understanding of allyship, explore the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in the workplace, and learn practical ways to take action as an ally. By the end of this path, you’ll have the tools and knowledge needed to support LGBTQ+ individuals in the workplace and beyond.
Understand Allyship
A very sweaty, queer Bela stands against a wall inside Club Cafe in Boston, Massachusetts. She is a light-skinned Latine woman wearing a sleeveless black and white jumpsuit and has tattooed sleeves. Behind her is a black poster with colorful text: Club Cafe believes Black lives matter, women’s rights are human rights, science is real, no human is illegal, kindness is everything, love is love, welcome back! Club Cafe is a safe space and will not tolerate any form of aggression, violence, or intolerance of others. Be kind!
Gain a foundational understanding of LGBTQ+ allyship, including the role allies play in supporting LGBTQ+ individuals, the benefits of being an ally, and the Allyship Model. By the end of this section, you’ll have a clear understanding of the importance of allyship and the ways in which you can be an effective ally.
In this video, learn how to articulate a key aspect of allyship: recognizing your own privilege and using it in support of marginalized colleagues. Acknowledging your own privilege and how you can use it in support of others is the first step in becoming an effective ally.
Learn how allies can help create a more inclusive work environment. Plus, learn why, regardless of your sexual orientation, it’s important to be aware of the role you can play as an ally in supporting your LGBTQ+ colleagues.
In this video, learn the major benefits of allyship for workplace culture, for colleagues, and yourself. When you recognize the benefits of allyship, you will be more motivated to become an ally.
In this video, learn how to articulate a key aspect of allyship: recognizing your own privilege and using it in support of marginalized colleagues. Acknowledging your own privilege and how you can use it in support of others is the first step in becoming an effective ally.
When leaders recognize you have to earn the title of “ally,” they can be purposeful with their actions in the workplace. When it comes to being an ally, words are not enough. This video explains what an ally is and who can be an ally.
Download Resources: Understand Allyship
Acknowledge Challenges
A pair of hands are painted in rainbow stripes against a white background. There are handcuffs on the wrists, signifying and denouncing the “crime” of being LGBTQ+.
In this section, you’ll explore the specific challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in the workplace, including workplace discrimination, harassment, and pay equity. You’ll also learn about double discrimination and intersectionality, which describes the unique challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals who belong to other marginalized groups. By the end of this section, you’ll have a greater awareness of these obstacles and the need for allies to acknowledge and address them.
Learn about the average day of a fictional colleague, Sarah, and then see how to contextualize her experiences with those shared among other LGBTQ+ workers. The purpose of this video is highlight existing barriers for LGBTQ+ people in the workforce.
Using marriage equality and equal access to restrooms for the transgender community, you can begin to understand sexual orientation equity. Learn about how to identify and explain the concept of sexual orientation equity.
After watching this video, learners will be able to properly describe how a lack of salary negotiation and socialized norms can affect the gender pay equity gap.
Bias isn’t limited to gender. Women can also experience biases due to their race, sexual orientation, a disability, or other aspects of their identity—and the compounded discrimination can be significantly greater than the sum of its parts. When different types of discrimination interconnect and overlap, this is called intersectionality.
Download Resources: Acknowledge Challenges
Take Action
A group of diverse people are wearing brightly colored clothes featuring rainbow colors. They’re responsibly wearing face masks while carrying signs, megaphones, and rainbow cups. The signs say: Love is Love, LGBT, and Fight for Equality.
In this section, you’ll explore practical ways to put your allyship into action. You’ll learn about being an ally to Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), adopting an allyship mindset, and what to do if you say or do the wrong thing. You’ll also learn about the importance of using gender-neutral language and have the opportunity to take an inclusivity pledge. By the end of this section, you’ll have the tools you need to take concrete actions to support the LGBTQ+ community in the workplace.
ERGs serve the broader organization and the core groups they support. In this video, learn how allies can support ERGs.
In this video, learn why adopting an allyship mindset is at the heart of authentic communication in a culturally diverse workplace. Adopting an allyship mindset starts with developing an awareness of the UK’s protected groups.
In this video, learn how tools for apologizing and using mistakes to grow, as well as practicing micro-affirmations, checking and updating the language you use, and expanding your comfort zone.
Gender-specific language has been shown to both distort mental models and make people feel excluded and forgotten. This video looks at the problems created by gender-specific language and how you can begin to incorporate gender-neutral language into your communication.
In this video, explore the take-aways from the course, skills for inclusive conversations, and the inclusivity pledge.
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