Hello folks,
Pride Month is here, a time for celebration, reflection, visibility, and action.
But let’s be honest it’s also a heavy time and a time for protest. Many members of the LGBTQIA+ community, especially trans and non-binary folks, are facing a rising tide of hostility and fear. In places that once felt like safe havens (even in parts of the world that used to feel progressive), the rights and dignity of queer people are under threat.
As celebrants, we’re in a unique position. We meet people in some of their most tender and transformative life moments: weddings, naming ceremonies, funerals, and beyond. We’re storytellers, space-holders, and meaning-makers. And we have the power to either reinforce the status quo or help build a more inclusive and loving world.
So if you’re wondering how to be an active ally this Pride Month (and all year round), here are 10 ideas to start with:
1. Educate Yourself Without Asking Marginalised People to Do the Work for You
Spend some time watching or reading up on LGBTQIA+ history, terminology, and the current challenges the community is facing. Listen to podcasts, watch documentaries, follow LGBTQIA+ creators. Learn what cisnormativity and heteronormativity mean and how they show up in our daily lives and ceremonies.
2. Audit Your Website and Language
Look at your celebrant materials: do you use inclusive language? Are your forms built with only “bride and groom” in mind? Could your imagery and examples reflect a wider range of identities and relationships? Pride Month is a great time for a refresh these. And if you’re thinking of doing a photo shoot to get some images, feature real LGBTQIA+ people.
3. Make Your Allyship Visible
Don’t just say you’re an ally, show it. Displaying a rainbow, trans flag, or inclusive symbol on your website or social media is a good start. But also include a short, clear statement about your commitment to inclusivity. You could write an Inclusivity and Diversity Policy and publish this on your site. Visibility helps LGBTQIA+ folks know they’re safe with you. And if you’ve attended training, include your certifications to show you’re making a commitment to learning.
4. Listen Deeply and Respect Pronouns
Pronouns matter. Take time to get them right. Practice if you need to. And when someone shares their identity with you, hear them. Full stop. Creating space for someone to be their full self is one of the most powerful gifts a celebrant can offer. A simple way to make this easier for others, is to always use your own pronouns when you introduce yourself.
5. Challenge Bias. Even in Small Moments
That throwaway joke. That “traditional” reading that assumes gender roles. That venue that doesn’t respect someone’s pronouns. Speak up. Gently, but firmly. We can make a difference in the small choices we make, ceremony by ceremony.
6. Seek Out and Support LGBTQIA+ Creatives
From photographers to florists, DJs to dressmakers, work with and recommend LGBTQIA+ -owned businesses. Tag them, uplift them, share their work. Community isn’t just a feeling; it’s a network of support. And if you find you’re only doing this during the month of PRIDE, you’re not an ally. Do it consistently.
7. Hold Space for Grief and Anger
Pride isn’t just about celebration, it started as a protest. And for many, this month brings up pain, especially in a world that feels increasingly hostile. Be the kind of ally who doesn’t flinch when someone shares their anger, grief, or exhaustion.
8. Be Open to Feedback and Stay Humble
Even with the best intentions, we’ll sometimes get it wrong. If someone points something out, resist the urge to get defensive. Listen. Learn. Thank them. Growth is part of the journey.
9. Include Queer Stories in Your Ceremonies
If you’re leading a wedding or commitment ceremony this month, consider weaving in stories of queer love and resilience (with your couple’s consent, of course). Let’s normalise and honour a full spectrum of love stories. (Take a look at ‘Queer Folk Tales’ by Kevin Walker)
10. Don’t Stop When June Ends
Being an ally isn’t a seasonal thing. Pride is a powerful moment, but real change comes from what we do the rest of the year. Keep learning – Keep speaking up – Keep holding space – Keep showing up.
To all the LGBTQIA+ members of our celebrant community and beyond: You are seen. You are valued. You are loved. We’re with you. Not just this month, but always.
And to all my fellow allies: Let’s keep growing, together.
With pride and purpose,