A critical part of creating an empathetic environment is the willingness of people in the LGBTQ community and their allies to have meaningful conversations about language use. In this lesson, Ash Beckham stresses that everyone is someone’s student and teaches you how to have open discussions that can shift perspectives.Use the word “gay” correctlyIf you are using the word “gay” in a negative way, it is not appropriate.Don’t adjust your language just for your immediate audience. You never know who you might be offending.Used in the right context, the word “gay” can be a source of pride and identity.People do not respond to “You shouldn’t say that!”People respond to “When you say that it makes me feel ____.”Simply labeling offensive language as “not politically correct” undermines the nature of inclusion and community.Recruit LGBTQ alliesThe LGBTQ community and allies need to educate others about appropriate language, but in a nonjudgemental way. Try not to blame or ass...