This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s spring editorial intern Ky Tanella. Find them on Instagram at @ky.tanella. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
2025 marked the inauguration of a new presidential administration, and with everything changing so quickly, it can feel exhausting to keep track of everything. If you’re scared, overwhelmed, or emotionally exhausted… you’re not alone. As a Hispanic queer woman, I’ve been doing everything I can to be an ally to my communities, my friends, and those who are being most impacted.
In this article, I’m just going to be scratching the surface of “how to be a better ally” to marginalized communities. Even if you’re not yet impacted, make an effort to help those around you! Empathy is very important during a time like this, do not let them strip you of your empathy.
Little Things Can Make a Big Impact
Firstly, listen! You have to learn to listen and be open to correction/education from not only your friends, but from your community. You can get the most information by just listening to black, trans, POC, and LGBTQ+ communities on social media sites and at protests. Ask your friends how they can be best supported. Allyship isn’t about making your voice louder, it’s about equity, and amplifying other voices who’ve continually been oppressed and silenced.
Vote! Voting in your local, city-wide, and state elections is still extremely important! I guarantee decisions are being made and bills are being passed on a state-wide basis that you haven’t heard of. Write to your local congressmen and ask for change! Volunteering with your local communities is also a fantastic small step towards better allyship. Give back to your community! Research pride centers, homeless shelters, and local events to be a part of the effort to give back – this doesn’t have to be money, your time and aid are very valuable. Shopping local is essential right now. Research companies that have rolled back on their DEI initiatives, and take a small step in boycotting those places. Costco and small businesses need to be supported right now!
Celebrate and bring attention to diversity holidays – if you haven’t noticed, Google has removed most holidays like this from their calendars. It doesn’t matter, still celebrate them! February is Black History Month, don’t forget that! March is Women’s History Month. Pride Month, Indigenous People’s Day, Hispanic Heritage Month, Jewish Heritage Month, and Holocaust Remembrance Day have all been removed – mark them manually on your calendars. There are dozens more dates, weeks, and months that celebrate marginalized communities, do not forget about them!
The Deeper Stuff
Okay, now that we’ve gone over some basic action, let’s get into some deeper stuff – most of this requires research and maybe physical action, but don’t worry, I’ve got plenty of resources for you!
Firstly, if you want to volunteer or donate, but don’t know where to start, research your local mutual aid organizations. Mutual Aid Hub and Mutual Aid Network (MAN) give you locations and step-by-step guides on how to get more involved in your community if you’re unsure where to start – such as links to join email lists, marketplaces, and local projects.
Ensure you’re up to date on what laws are being passed and what rights are being revoked. Physical documents and information are extremely important right now. I’ve been keeping a journal with dates and lists of passed laws and actions taken by the new administration, as well as related events on social media. It can get overwhelming, but access to internet information isn’t guaranteed during a time like this, so print what you see, keep your documents up to date, and purchase physical media whenever possible. Especially keep track of the current whitewashing and “sanitization” of America’s history, and keep yourself (and your friends, children, and parents) educated!
Next, community building! Social media is a great resource for this, but building connections and allyships in real life is just as important. Prove you’re a safe space for your marginalized friends by participating in events led by local queer/trans/POC leaders, and by taking the time to educate yourself by listening and reading, and keeping up with new information.
Lastly, protests! Marches, protests, and similar events are more popular in city spaces and can be difficult to keep up with. A website like Indivisible is a great way to find local events, but lots of local organizations and leaders will post up-to-date information on their Instagram! Look up your city, state, and keywords like “write-in,” “walk-out,” “protest,” “boycott,” etc. to find some pages that’ll keep you up to date. Local small businesses may also display posters with this information! If you have unreliable transportation or are physically disabled, protests can be extremely hard to attend – there’s no shame in that, you can protest from home by boycotting and showing support by posting about local protests to spread the word!
Of course, there are safety precautions you need to take at these protests. Make sure to cover your face with masks and your eyes with sunglasses, tie up your hair or wear a hat, and cover any distinctive tattoos or scars in case you’re photographed. Use “gray man tactics” during protests, which essentially means do your best to blend into the crowd – wear neutral colors, and nothing flashy with your clothing or jewelry. If you’re a protest photographer, remember to edit your pictures and blur any faces or anything recognizable! Take care of yourself and know that nearly all protests are completely peaceful.
Educational Resources/Information
I’ve talked a lot about keeping yourself educated through books and resources, but I’ve only given you a few examples. Here’s the section where I’ll start listing some of these resources for you.
Here’s a great running list of actions taken by the new administration, that’s continuously updating. Stay up to date on nearly everything by reading and listening to NPR – this is a great way to stay updated on climate change, policies, and general news updates.
ACLU! This is a fantastic website for protecting and staying up to date on the rights of all marginalized groups, resources for allyships, and ways to donate/take action. LAMBDA Legal and the National Center for Transgender Equality are both great resources to learn about LGBTQ+ and civil rights, as well as healthcare resources for youth and places to volunteer/donate. I stated above that you should shop local and boycott places that have rolled back on their DEI initiatives, here is an app/website that keeps a running list of companies to boycott. If you’re looking for a YouTube video with most of this information and some more ways to prepare/be an ally, this is a great resource.
Lastly, here are some resources for women, people with uteruses, and cis men who want to be helpful! Aidaccess.org and planc.org are great abortion/healthcare sites. PlanAHealth is a mobile clinic that serves people in Georgia and Tennessee, if you’re in these locations I recommend checking them out.
Here are some Instagram accounts to follow with lots of updates!
- Impact – socially impactful news and culture
- So.Informed – general political and social issue updates, very informative
- DecolonizeMyself – global POC news, a great outlet for decolonizing your news
- DemocracyNow – an independent daily news media outlet
- Them – LGBTQIA+ news and updates
- Wizard_Bizan1 – Palestinian Journalist who chronicles her journey during and after the genocide
Books to Read (Shop Local)
- The Heart of Allyship by Elle Michael Deran
- Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall
- On Tyranny by Timothy D. Snyder
- Surviving Autocracy by Masha Gessen
- Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present by Ruth Ben-Ghiat
- Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
- Rainbow History Class by Hannah McElhinney
- How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
- Buy banned books! Like 1984, Animal Farm, The Handmaid’s Tale and The Bluest Eye
As usual, I’ve bombarded you with a lot of information! I hope it was helpful, and I hope you feel just a little less overwhelmed with some starting ground. Take care of yourself!
What did you think about these resources on “how to be a better ally?” Let us know in the comments down below, and keep taking care of yourself! We will get through this!
Leave a Reply