Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

Issues surrounding the full-inclusion and rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people are at the forefront of many political discussions. People who are straight-identified ally activists of LGBTQ people have been a part of many movements that aim to improve the plight of LGBTQ people. This article explores the stories of three straight-identified ally activists as transformative learning experiences. Three individuals were selected from among a number of people interviewed because of their clarity and the variety of characteristics they represent. The study demonstrates the two-tiered nature of transformation necessary to becoming and being an ally activist. First, the individuals must become allies. Second, they must be moved to action in order to begin advocating for LGBTQ people.

Keywords

LGBTQ straight allies ally activism

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Activism. (n.d.). Dictionary.com unabridged (v 1.0.1). Retrieved November 20, 2006, from Dictionary.com website http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/activism

Ally. (n.d.). The American Heritage® dictionary of the English language, fourth edition. Retrieved November 20, 2006, from Dictionary.com website http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ally

American Psychiatric Association. (1973). Homosexuality and civil rights: Position statement. Retrieved April 21, 2010, from http://www.psych.org/Departments/EDU/Library/APAOfficialDocumentsandRelated/PositionStatements/197310.aspx

APA Task Force on Appropriate Therapeutic Responses to Sexual Orientation. (2009). Report of the task force on appropriate therapeutic responses to sexual orientation. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association .

Borshuk, C. ( 2004). An interpretive investigation into motivations for outgroup activism. The Qualitative Report, 9, 300-319.

Cannon, J. ( 1993). Stellaluna. San Diego, CA: Harcourt Brace.

Gamson, J. ( 1995). Must identity movements self-construct? A queer dilemma . Social Problems, 42, 390-407.

Hill, R.J. ( 2004). Activism as practice: Some queer considerations. New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education, 102, 85-94.

Hines, S. ( 2006). What’s the difference? Bringing particularity to queer studies of transgender. Journal of Gender Studies, 15, 49-66.

10.

Josselson, R. ( 2004). The hermeneutics of faith and the hermeneutics of suspicion . Narrative Inquiry, 14, 1-28.

11.

Mezirow, J. ( 1997). Transformative learning: Theory to practice. New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education, 74, 5-12.

12.

Ohnstad, A. ( 2009). If I am not straight or gay, who am I? Clinical Social Work Journal, 37, 357-367.

13.

Peplau, L.A. , & Garnets, L.D. ( 2000). A new paradigm for understanding women’s sexuality and sexual orientation. Journal of Social Issues, 56, 329-350.

14.

Rocco, T.S. , & Gallagher, S.J. (2006). Straight privilege and moral/izing: Issues in career development. New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education, 112, 29-39.

15.

Rosario, M. , Schrimshaw, E.W. , Hunter, J. , & Braun, L. ( 2006). Sexual identity development among lesbian, gay, and bisexual youths: Consistency and change over time. Journal of Sex Research , 43, 46-58.

16.

Taylor, E.W. ( 2007). An update of transformative learning theory: A critical review of the empirical research (1999-2005). International Journal of Lifelong Education, 26, 173-191.

17.

Taylor, E.W. ( 2008). Transformative learning theory. New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education, 119, 5-15.

Joining the Family: Experiences of Being and Becoming Ally Activists of LGBTQ People

Abstract

Keywords

Get full access to this article

References