On being an “ally”

The concept of being an ally has become increasingly contested as everyone who is white, straight, and cisgender wants to opt out of the responsibility of complicity with oppression.

So here are a few rules for when you want to talk about working to end oppression.

Rule 1. Don’t wave your “ally” card as if it entitled you to something.
By all means deconstruct the concept of being an ally, and critique those who use it as some sort of entitlement card – but don’t claim to be an ally.

Rule 2....