The Sixth Annual Ally Week Comes to a Close

The sixth annual Ally Week, October 18-22, 2010 has just ended.

Ally Week is a time student organizers can plan events that serve to identify, support and celebrate Allies against anti-LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) language, bullying and harassment in U.S. schools. Allies are people who do not identify as LGBT students, but support this community by standing against the bullying and harassment LGBT youth face in school.

Students plan a wide range of activities for their school communities: from pledge drives and PSA announcements to workshops and coalition-building roundtables, students increase the awareness of anti-LGBT behavior while working to build the networks of support within their school.

Are you an Ally?
In the wake of recent tragedies across the country, it's more important than that LGBT youth to be able to identify their Allies. Although Ally Week is over, there are things you can do every day to take action to show your support.

Sign the Ally Week Pledge
Sign the pledge online by going to www.AllyWeek.org/pledge. You can continue your support by asking others to sign the pledge. Then send this pledge to your friends, family and colleagues to encourage them to take a stand against anti-LGBT bullying.

Ally Week Voices
During Ally Week we highlighted stories about allies as part of an Ally Week story contest.

The Little Red School House and Elisabeth Irwin High School
This 90-year-old independent school in the West Village section of NYC, founded by Elizabeth Irwin, has long encouraged students to take action within their communities. See what the students did this year to become allies and talk about what it means to be a friend.

Ally Week Support Video
See this 2-minute video by GLSEN ambassador Nowmee Shehab, a high school student from Snellville, Georgia.