Attending the allyship session on June 18th was a transformative experience for me. It opened my eyes to some of the basic wrongful assumptions that many of us who've grown up in straight society and identify as cisgender and heterosexual, tend to harbour about the LGBTQIA+ community.

The first and biggest myth that was busted for me was that of "choice." I have been guilty of supporting my queer friends by saying that "it is their choice." It was only during this session that I found out that perhaps it is not about choice; it is just how some of us are wired. (I'd like to add that I love and support my queer friends for the life they choose, regardless of wiring!)

Secondly, one example really struck a chord with me. The session host and DEI trainer, Sonali Dutta, said something about how we display our family and spouse pictures on our desks. Have we ever spotted our queer friends doing that? Do we invite our colleagues for dinner along with their same-sex partners? Do we use inclusive language in meetings and conversations, like "Hey folks/people" instead of "Okay, ladies," or "Alright, boys"? I think these small, everyday instances are a subtle reminder of how we can support our LGBTQIA+ friends in every way.

Team Godrej Agrovet gathers for a Pride Month session on the fundamentals of allyship and supporting the LGBTQIA+ community.

And third, it brought home the fact of how much all of us owe the queer movement in terms of how we would like to be accepted and embraced, regardless of society's norms. I would take the liberty to say that the LGBTQIA+ movement symbolises to me our evolution as a civilisation that can be more accepting of every identity, body type, hair type, colour. This session and the pride march that followed later in the week were a reminder to celebrate life and freedom in all abilities, shapes, sizes, and colours."Ally-mentary: Basics of Being a Supportive Ally" was an eye-opening experience that equipped me with practical tools and a renewed sense of purpose. It taught me that being an ally is about actively listening, using privilege for good, and committing to continuous learning. These lessons have not only changed how I interact with others but have also encouraged me to advocate for creating a more inclusive and just society.

Text by Kinnari Mohite. Image by the GAVL team.