Allies are persons who are supportive of the LGBTQQIP2SAA persons in their life as well as the broader LGBTQQIP2SAA community.
How you can be an ally:
By being open-minded; by being a listener; by being willing to talk.
By being inclusive and inviting LGBTQQIP2SAA friends to spend time with your friends and family.
By not making the assumption that your friends and co-workers are not lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, pansexual, two spirit, androgynous, or asexual. Someone close to you could be looking for support with their coming-out process; not making assumptions will assist them in being able to turn to you for support and affirmation.
It's incumbent upon all of us to help our friends, family, and co-workers to realize the harm caused by comments and jokes made at the expense of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, pansexual, two spirit, androgynous, or asexual persons. It's incumbent upon all of us to realize that every person regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.
A gender expression relating to members of the LGBTQQIP2SAA community who embrace both masculine and feminine characteristics.
Aromanticism / Asexuality
Asexual persons embrace a life which does not include sexual interactions with other persons. Aromantic persons embrace a life which does not include romance. Aromantic aseuxal (aro-ace) persons embrace a life which includes neither romantic nor sexual interactions.
As aromanticism and asexuality are distinct a given person might be aromantic, asexual, or both. We can all do a better job of extending allyship, compassion and support to asexual, aromantic and aro-ace persons.
BDSM
An acronym for the words Bondage, Discipline, Sadism, and Masochism. Over time the word BDSM has grown beyond it's literal meaning to become emblematic for a diverse, gender-inclusive community, the BDSM Community.
Bear
A gender expression embraced by members of the community who project rugged masculinity.
Coming Out
Sharing one's gender identity and/or sexual orientation with friends, family, and acquaintances.
Conversion Therapy
Efforts to modify a person's gender identity or sexual orientation.
Cross-Dressing
Dressing in a manner which stands at variance with the gender identity assigned to a person by society. A common misnomer is that cross-dressing relates only to transwomen.
Day of Remembrance
Violence against the transgender community is more pervasive than is many people realize. November 20th is a day for us to celebrate the memory of those who have been taken from us.
Gender Non Conforming (GNC)
Expressing one's gender identity in a manner which is not in keeping with expectations.
"Hanky" Code
Placing a handkerchief in the back pocket as a means of informing others about one's fetish interests.
Leather Pride Flag
The Leather Pride Flag is the foundational symbol of solidarity between the LGBTQQIP2SAA and BDSM communities. The flag was designed in 1989 by Tony DeBlase and was first displayed in the Portland Gay and Lesbian Pride Parade in that same year.
Almost thirty years after its creation the flag continues to stand as a beacon of fellowship for everyone in the community from those who have shepherded us through decades of challenge to those recently arrived.
Misgendering
Accidentally or intentionally referring to a person by a gender which differs from their gender identify.
Munches
Casual meetings for members of a local BDSM community. Munches are generally open to anyone who wishes to attend and provide a means for existing community members to keep in touch as well as welcoming new persons into the community.
Non-Binary
Persons who's gender identity is not limited to a single gender expression.
Open To All
The proposed extension of non-discrimination laws to include the LGBTQQIP2SAA Community. Visit www.OpenToAll.com to learn more.
Pangender
Embracing qualities typically associated with more than one gender identity.
Play
Engaging in BDSM activities.
Play Party
A gathering where persons holding an interest in BDSM meet to socialize and engage in BDSM activities.
Resist March
A human rights march facilitating members and allies of the LGBTQQIP2SAA community joining together to voice their support for the community. The most recent Resist March occurred in June of 2018 in Los Angeles.
Sizeism
A system of exclusion imposed on persons based upon their size or weight. When evaluating potential partners on Collarspace please keep in mind that amazing people come in all shapes and sizes.
Safe, Sane, and Consensual (SSC)
A conrnerstone principle of the community premised upon ensuring that BDSM activities are consensual and carried out in a safe manner which protects all participants from any manner of harm.
Stonewall Uprising
The Stonewall Uprising is the event most widely credited with giving rise to the contemporary LGBTQQIP2SAA community in the United States.
The Uprising occurred shortly after 3 AM on June 28, 1969 at the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village, New York.
Two Spirit Persons
Two spirit persons hold within them both a masculine and a feminine spirit. Appreciation for two spirit persons originated with the indigenous peoples of the First Nations. We can all benefit from their wisdom.
