Why we need Atticus Circle

Ms. Wynne created Atticus Circle in 2004 to address three critical concerns:

1. Straight Allies, such as herself, do not yet have a safe place to communicate and organize actions with like-minded peers.
2. Many straight people carry an “us versus them” mentality when they hear about same-sex couples, which inhibits conversations about LGBT issues
3. There are still thousands of Americans who do not have LGBT rights on their radar.

A Safe Place:  Many straight allies shy away from active participation in an organization where the support base is predominantly LGBT because many of their actions involve an LGBT American sharing his or her experiences. Others refrain from joining family-based ally groups because they do not have an open LGBT relative.

Without an umbrella organization to mobilize these allies, the fight for LGBT equality is losing valuable resources and people-power. Throughout the years, Atticus Circle has become this all-inclusive safe place for straight allies all across the fifty states.

The Us versus Them Mentality: A popular problem equal right advocates run into is the “us versus them” mentality. Take the 2008 No on Prop 8 Campaign for example. Critics of the No on Prop 8 argued that the campaign strategies “lacked heart."  Many commercials and ads aired shied away from portraying gay and lesbian Americans whose rights would be eliminated by the initiative. One may wonder, “How can Americans sympathize if they don’t know who the legislation impacts?”

On the other hand, proponents of the No on Prop 8 campaign argue that they chose to focus on “human rights” and “justice” as all-inclusive terms because many straight Americans still perceive the LGBT community as inherently different from them. This “us versus them” perception inhibits conversation between gay and lesbian couples and straight couples. A common question is, “How can we appeal to straight Americans if they are already against our cause?”

Creation Story

Atticus Circle programs answer both questions through the “personal creation story.” A creation story is a straight ally’s personal testimony about why he or she chose to stand up and speak up for same-sex partners, parents and their children. These stories have shown great success in moving previously opposed or ambivalent straight people to support LGBT equality because they bridge the gap between “us” and “them” while providing the personal connection imperative in furthering the equal rights cause. Our organization believes that a straight ally has the ability to facilitate the discussion between the straight population and LGBT individuals; the creation story is a powerful, non-threatening tool which effectively conveys the impact of discriminatory legislations on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans.

Still Not On their Radar: The November 2008 election proved the importance of spreading awareness of LGBT issues. Because of the heavy media focus on Proposition 8, the country saw an extreme outpour of support for same-sex marriage post election; many organizations, including Atticus Circle, found new members overnight. While we are excited about these new allies, yet, we can’t help but wonder, “What could have happened if these allies had been informed earlier?”

There are still potential allies across the country who do not yet have equal rights on their radar, or simply do not understand the impact of discrimination on their queer neighbors, friends, or co-workers. Over the last four years, we at Atticus Circle have seen that the best way to raise awareness and change hearts and minds is through a conversation. Real conversations take place when there is a level of trust and a belief in the other person’s authenticity; this is why personal stories are at the center of each and every Atticus Circle program.

Atticus Circle exists today because our three initial concerns remain relevant. We need Atticus Circle because discrimination still exists, and there are still many potential straight allies whose hearts and minds can be changed through a conversation. We hope you will join Atticus Circle today and become a part of an all-inclusive community which effectively educates and mobilizes straight Americans, and successfully fosters dialogue between non-affirming groups and allies.