Small but Important Ways to be a Better Ally to the LGBTQ+ Community

This blog is not intended as a information piece, rather more a little flag of our feelings and intentions waving from over here at Moot HQ and an invitation for any of our friends in the LGBTQ+ community (if they have any energy left) to keep pointing us in the right direction to make sure that we are good and proper allies. 

We work in an area of gender non-conformity, where we attract clients of all sexualities and we are frequently asked where we stand. We are neutral. No gender or sexuality trumps any other. All are welcome. All are respected. We (Jules, the owner and designer at Moot; Anna, full time comms, packing and managing; and Lucy, our sewing specialist and all round wonder) happen to not be part of the LGBTQ+ community at this point in our lives, and we have always wanted to make that clear for the simple reason of authenticity, we understand that we cannot slide into a community and enjoy the camaraderie unless we authentically belong there. 

What we can be, however, are allies. We can stand with, and for, our family members, friends and customers who are part of the community. We can share our commitment to honouring, learning and respecting what we hear from our LGBTQ+ friends. 

Right now, in November 2022, we are shocked and saddened to hear news of yet more murders of innocent people enjoying themselves in what they saw as a safe space; of FIFA banning the wearing of a ONE LOVE arm band during a tournament played in a place where you can legally be killed for being yourself. There are no words for how insane this is. 

We wonder what we can do in support of our brothers, sisters and siblings worldwide who are part of the community?  Well, we have been reading a bit during Transgender Awareness Week  and the very smallest thing we can do is recognise the request to acknowledge the difference between writing transman and trans man, transwoman and trans woman. It may seem inconsequential, but if you are a trans woman, that small space which still allows the word woman to be a separately recognised adjective for you, is far from inconsequential. 

Reading some information from Stonewall on how to be a better ally, it is clear that education and making the effort to keep educated about the terminology requested and the current evolving challenges faced by the community is a key theme, as well as developing an understanding of the timeline of activism and how much bloody work has gone into getting the world to the point that we are at, with still so much further to go. We understand that it is exhausting for the LGBTQ+ community who should not be leaned upon to direct allies and do their work for them! We hear you. 

Early on in Moot’s trading life, back in 2020, we thought that it was a point of interest that Jules was a straight cis male, who happened to be married and have kids. Now we want to remove that ‘hook’ from any reporting about Moot because it’s nothing more than an irrelevant distraction that plays into the homophobia by driving a stake into the ground to declare a sexuality and to make some sort of deal about ‘unexpected behaviours’ around that norm. 

Well, we don’t want to be part of that. By using the, ‘But, he’s straight!’ line, there is a wall being built between us and some of our people. This is a subtle, but important thing; we know we are not part of the LGBTQ+ community and we will never pretend to be, but we are equally not going to push any straight agenda nor seek the validation of that much bigger group because it really does not matter in any way who we each are sleeping with, dancing with, kissing and loving. 

We make beautiful underwear. It’s for anyone who loves it. And we promise to keep listening and learning.