Why Intersectional Allyship Matters More Than Ever

Allyship is more than just a buzzword—it’s an action, a responsibility, and a commitment to creating spaces where everyone belongs. But if our allyship isn’t intersectional, it’s incomplete.

Intersectionality, a term coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw, recognizes that oppression isn’t one-size-fits-all. A queer person of color experiences discrimination differently than a white queer person. A disabled trans woman faces different barriers than a cis woman. Without an intersectional lens, allyship risks leaving people behind, reinforcing the very systems it seeks to dismantle.

So, what does intersectional allyship look like? It means acknowledging privilege, listening to voices different from our own, and understanding that no single identity defines a person’s experience. It means advocating for racial justice within 2SLGBTQIA+ spaces, ensuring disability access in feminist movements, and making sure every fight for equality includes everyone—not just those whose struggles mirror our own.

Real allyship is messy. It’s uncomfortable. It asks us to sit with our blind spots and do better. But the alternative—performative allyship that only benefits the most privileged among us—isn’t true solidarity. We don’t get free alone. We get free together.

Let’s make sure our allyship reflects that.