'Pride' Trailer Shows What Allies Look Like

Just in time for Pride Month, the trailer for the movie Pride has been released. It's a film based on the true story of LGBT activists who worked to raise money in support of the National Union of Mineworkers strike in 1984 Britain. You'll recognize a few famous British faces: Bill Nighy, Dominic West, and Imelda Staunton (aka Professor Umbridge from Harry Potter). Early reviews have been positive, and it's easy to see why. The movie features two universally-loved things: humans learning how to understand and support one another, and sassy old ladies.

But more importantly, it's a movie about allies: lesbian and gay activist serving as allies for the miner's strike, and the community around them learning how to serve as allies for the LGBT community in return. The men and women in this small Welsh mining village may just be learning how to work as allies to the LGBT community, but they face intolerance with wit and good humor. So here's what to say when faced with common idiocy, according to Pride:

"I Don't Want to Give Them the Wrong Impression"

"Right, because you're so bloody irresistible."

Exactly. The majority of people who are worried about being hit on by their own gender have nothing to worry about in the first place. And as for the rest, being gay doesn't mean you're completely blind and deaf to common human social cues.

"What They're Really Doing is Pushing Their Own Agenda"

Okay, this phrase usually indicates some Fox News-level craziness. Agenda? It's a protest, not some kind of LGBT Illuminati. I am fully in support of telling people to shut their mouths after this phrase is uttered, because what comes next is likely to be absolute nonsense. And while I don't advocate for also lunging at someone's throat, I can't say I don't understand it.

"Are You a Lesbian?"

Obviously, lesbianism is not some sort of contagious disease, but for some reason a few special people will approach it that way. So face the issue like your local D.A.R.E. officer never taught you: just say yes. People will either get the sarcasm and realize they're being silly, or they'll think you're serious and hopefully realize that there's nothing wrong with being gay. Case in point: "That's right. We're just off to Swansea now for a massive lez-off."