Council joins inclusive ‘Welcome Here’ project
Northern Beaches Council is proudly reinforcing its commitment to inclusion, diversity and respect by rolling out visible signs of support for the LGBTQ+ community.
Rainbow ‘Welcome Here’ stickers are being displayed at key Council locations including Customer Service Centres, libraries, aquatic centres, Glen Street Theatre and the Manly Art Gallery and Museum, signalling that everyone is welcome.
The initiative forms part of Council’s broader efforts to increase awareness of its inclusive approach towards people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer and part of rainbow communities.
Mayor Sue Heins said the Northern Beaches is a place where everyone belongs.
“By partnering with ACON to join the national Welcome Here Project, we are sending a clear message that people of all sexualities and gender identities are welcome, respected and valued,” Mayor Heins said.
“This is an important project to build connection, understanding and belonging for everyone in the Northern Beaches community,” she said.
Council’s involvement in the project has been welcomed by members of the local LGBTQ+ community, including the community-led Fusion Pride Northern Beaches.
“This can genuinely be the difference between someone feeling unsure about accessing a service and feeling like they truly belong in their own community,” Fusion Pride Northern Beaches spokesperson Sean Moran said.
The Welcome Here Project supports businesses, organisations and services to create and promote environments that are visibly welcoming and inclusive of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer communities.
For more information about Council’s support for the LGBTQ+ community, visit council’s website.
About the Welcome Here Project
The Welcome Here Project is the new Safe Place Project. The Safe Place Project started in 1992 in response to high levels of street-based violence directed at lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) people. Local businesses signed up to become a ‘Safe Place’ and proudly displayed a sticker in their shop front to let LGBTQ+ Community Members know they could seek refuge if they were under the threat of violence.
As times have changed, street based violence has reduced, but there is still work to be done in this space. The Welcome Here Project has been created to focus on supporting local business owners and services in Australia to create and promote environments that are visibly welcoming and inclusive of LGBTQ+ people.
Members of the Project receive the Welcome Here rainbow stickers to display in their window to everyone know that LGBTQ+ diversity is welcomed and celebrated within their business. Members also display a charter that brings to life their commitment to the Project, and what being a member is all about.
ACON also provides Members with resources to support them celebrate LGBTQ+ diversity. This is part of a Diversity Days project. You can find out more about Diversity and how you can celebrate and honour them, here.
The Welcome Here Project also aims to mobilise the LGBTQ+ community to engage with registered Welcoming Places and provide feedback on their experiences.
Visible, welcomed LGBTQ+ communities mean safer communities, and by becoming a registered Welcoming Place, Members are helping create positive social change throughout Australia.
The Welcome Here Project supports businesses and services throughout Australia to create and promote environments that are visibly welcoming and inclusive of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer (LGBTQ+) communities.
Members receive the Welcome Here rainbow stickers and charter to display in a prominent place to let everyone know that LGBTQ+ diversity is welcomed and celebrated within their business.
Residents can Register or nominate a business to become a member and look out for Welcome Here rainbow stickers all over Australia!
To find out more, please visit: www.welcomehere.org.au
All Are Welcome - All Belong!
