Businesses will have a new way to demonstrate their support for diversity under a new initiative launched by a local equality charity for Pride month.
The Rainbow Mark programme, hosted by Liberate Jersey, certifies an organisation as being LGBTQ+ friendly and committed to LGBTQ+ inclusion through visible signage, like a window sticker.
To achieve this, businesses must adhere to five key principles, as outlined by Liberate Jersey:
- Being committed to providing a welcome, inclusive and safe space for the LGBTQ+ community and maintaining best practice.
- Making sure that LGBTQ+ customers, clients, staff and individuals feel valued, protected and free to be themselves while present at the organisation.
- Being supportive of the LGBTQ+ community by using inclusive and respectful language, to ensure comfort for everybody.
- Pledging to address discriminatory behaviour and language.
- Agreeing to contact Liberate to request advice and best practice to address and resolve any issues of discrimination or intolerance toward LGBTQ+ individuals, should they arise.
The local initiative is in partnership with NatWest International and follows a “successful launch” of the Rainbow Mark programme in Guernsey.
Liberate Jersey said signing up is free of charge, and participating organisations may include premises such as small shops, beauty salons, kiosks, cafes, bars, restaurants, gyms and nightclubs, “essentially, anywhere that members of the public visit as customers or clients”.
“Thanks to sponsorship by NatWest International, we are very excited to be launching the free Rainbow Mark scheme in Jersey,” said Kaye Nicholson, CEO of Liberate Jersey.
“At a time where there is increased negative rhetoric, marginalisation and a rollback of LGBTQ+ rights around the world, this kitemark scheme provides valuable visible representation to our LGBTQ+ community that they are welcome and safe in organisations providing goods and services to the public.
“It provides organisations with some entry-level guidance on how to be inclusive and prevent discrimination and harassment, as well as a connection to Liberate for collaboration and support should any issues occur,” she added.
A launch event for the Rainbow Mark programme will be held at the Salvation Army building in Minden Place on Wednesday 18 June at 12pm, with a presentation from Ms Nicholson and Mark Smith, RBSI Relationship Director from Guernsey.
Ms Nicholson said she will be available until 4pm for business leaders to “drop in and enquire about signing up to show visible and valuable support for our LGBTQ+ community”.
“As it’s Pride month and the tenth anniversary of Channel Islands Pride, it would be wonderful to see lots of the Rainbow Mark logos going up as demonstrable support and allyship to our LGBTQ+ community,” she added.
Businesses interested in attending the event should email kaye@liberate.je to secure a place.