June is Pride Month! To celebrate and support our LGBTQIA+ community we want to remind everyone that we’re open to all.

At Buranda Village, we want to create an inclusive and supportive environment for everyone. That’s why we’ve got a few top tips from Michael and Jarrad @the_real_dads_of_melbourne and Kat from @two.brisbane.mamas on how you can help everyone feel free to be themselves.

Michael (left) and Jarrad (right) are Reed’s (middle) Dads, they’re gay and their pronouns are both he/him. They spoke to us about their experience.

Michael notes that he feels the progression of acceptance is an enormous step forward, he acknowledges that we have a way to go to extend that support to the wider LGBTQIA+ community.

Here are Michael and Jarrad’s top tips:

1. Use inclusive language
Use terms that are representational of all genders, such as they and them, to create a culture of mutual respect, dignity, belonging and community.

2. Speak up
If you hear discrimination and prejudice, use your voice to explain to others why their actions are offensive to help create safer and affirming spaces.   

3. Be respectful
Being supportive can be as simple as respecting someone’s privacy and not assuming how they identify. Being open-minded, actively listening, learning, and adjusting your own behaviour can create a more inclusive environment. 

Kat (right) from @two.brisbane.mamas is a wife to Kristen (left) and mother, and she shared her three simple ways to be more inclusive to those in the LGBTQIA+ community.

Here are her top three tips:

1.    Ask about pronouns  

Kat tells us, “My pronouns are she/her, however if you don’t know someone’s pronouns it’s ok to ask simply and respectfully, what pronouns they use. Creating a safe space for others by sharing your pronouns is a great way to introduce yourself.”

2.    Be supportive, inclusive, and kind

This goes for your community, circle of friends and in your workplace, showing support includes things like learning about LGBTQIA+ rights.  

3.    Leave presumptions out of the conversation

It’s an important and crucial way you can help support your friends and family in the LGBTQIA+ community. Using inclusive language and the correct pronouns is essential to treating everyone equally.

From all of us at Buranda Village, we hope you have a great Pride Month!