Don’t Lose Your Advocacy Momentum in 2021

As impossible as it seems, we have finally reached the final stretch of 2020. Murder hornets, wildfires, a pandemic, and political and civil unrest are just the tip of the insidious iceberg symbolizing the events of this year, setting the stage for what appears to be a dismal start to 2021. 

However, as trying as this year has been, it is not all doom and gloom. From my perspective, we are entering 2021 with at least one positive: for the first time, the inequalities of this country have been laid bare on a profound, unavoidable level, inspiring a level of activism that could truly change the world as we know it.

As a bi man who has worked in the advocacy space for a few years, I learned early on to rein in my expectations when it comes to making significant changes in a short amount of time. In my experience, it takes quite a bit of time to get people to listen to you, let alone show you and your mission the level of support needed to help right the wrongs of the world. It is abhorrent to think about the level of loss that diverse and marginalized communities have experienced and continue to endure in order to get the world to even listen to their causes. The losses they have experienced could have been avoided had the world paid attention sooner. And sadly, those lost in 2020 are just a few of many brought on by a long history of neglect when it comes to the real, tangible issues these communities face daily.

But now, the country is paying attention due to the incredible activism of diverse communities and their allies from across the country. It’s inspiring to see such momentum put behind these movements, but in order to see the changes we want, this push must continue into 2021. Yes, there are dedicated activists who put their heart and soul into these efforts every single day, but it takes more than them to make the wheel of change turn. If you’re unsure of how to help support these missions, these simple steps will keep you on the right track in the coming months.

Support Diversity

This might seem like a no-brainer, but this doesn’t just mean support diversity causes that directly impact you and your life. This means take the time to educate yourself about communities you are unfamiliar with and explore ways in which you can support their ultimate goals as well. If you truly consider yourself to be an advocate for diversity, you must look beyond yourself and expand your perspective to include fights beyond your own. Diverse and marginalized communities should work together to support each other’s goals because we can accomplish so much more as a united front.

Have Tough Conversations

Some of you may be thinking, “I have no problem steamrolling ‘x’ type of person and telling them they are wrong about every single one of their positions”. But when I say have tough conversations, I mean open up a dialogue that is going to be challenging for you as well. You cannot go through life avoiding discussions with people you disagree with; if you do that, you’re never going to understand where their beliefs come from or what motivates them, negating your ability to accurately refute their position. Engaging in combative back and forth conversations that only include insults, ridicule, and anger is not a way to advance your cause. Sharing insights with a community that already agrees with you is not going to produce any results either. In order to move forward in a productive manner, it’s going to take uncomfortable debates; they will not be easy, but they will help you become a better advocate.

Don’t Stop Pushing

Even with the momentum from 2020, it’s still going to take persistent effort to make the changes diverse and marginalized communities are pushing for. Do not let up on the gas; keep pushing, sharing, and making moves that support the causes that are close to your heart, while also giving support to the new causes you have learned about. By persistently pushing forward now, we can move into a future where the losses of 2020 will never be repeated.