Practice tip:
Display visual cues
If your service accepts rainbow clients, you can express your manaaki by showing visual signs of inclusion. It’s important these aren’t just hollow symbols - if you fly a rainbow flag, it’s reasonable for clients to expect you will treat them with respect.
Some visual signs of inclusion that you could introduce to your service - your offices, service locations, emails or website - include:
art by rainbow artists
brochures, posters and website links that are relevant to rainbow communities (e.g gender-affirming healthcare, rainbow community events, or rainbow mental health services)
gender-inclusive signage (e.g. gender-neutral bathrooms)
pride flags
rainbow lanyards or pins
pronouns on staff badges, email signatures, or website bios
inclusive language on your website, and in communications about your services
Another important visual cue is clearly displayed policies and procedures that may refer to rainbow clients (e.g. complaints procedures, discrimination and harrassment policy). These should be in multiple places (such as reception areas, offices, and shared facilities) for service users to refer to when needed.
Free rainbow posters you can download and print:
Takatāpui tips from takatāpui.nz
Transgender posters from Gender Minorities Aotearoa
Be There posters with messages for parents and whānau
Rainbow rangatira and trans inclusion posters from InsideOUT