Businesses need to be Allies too!

When we talk about allyship, many people discuss it as something an individual undertakes. However, allyship needs to be employed at every level, especially by businesses because marginalised people are your consumer.

I remember hosting a panel for an insurance company a pride or so ago. One thing that the client brought up, was that they were unsure how to approach the subject of trans+ people as they said there ‘weren’t many trans+ people in the insurance industry, nor do they have trans customers’. 

This is the biggest misconception, trans+ people are a minority for sure, but we are also just people. We buy insurance, we eat cereal, we want to buy homes. Stop seeing us as ‘others’ and start seeing us just like you - people. This is the first step of active allyship both internally and externally. See us as part of your world, and not as a separate element.

The other way I think active allyship can translate into businesses is to get over the risk factor. I see a lot of corporations talking about how risky it is to join the conversation about supporting trans+ people, to stick their heads above the parapet for us.

I ask you what you think the risk is?

I appreciate bottom lines, and profit margins are equally important in tough financial times, but is that more important than being a decent company? Do you want your staff to think you care more about money than you do humanity?

‘But having a pro-trans stance will lose us customers’ 

GOOD! 

Do you really want those people to invest in your business? 

Do you really want to align with people whose views share more in common with fascist eugenics-focused governments of Europe's past? Is that where you want to place yourselves? That means that not just trans employees and customers will feel ostracised, but also all these identities;

People of Colour  

Disabled people

Women

The whole LGBTQIA+ community 

Anyone with a shred of human decency.

When you are thinking about the risk of standing up for what is right as a business, understand it is a bigger risk to not stand up for trans+ people. Businesses need to stand up for us, because we are your customers, we are your employees, and we are not going anywhere!