The First New Zealand LGBTI Awards Will Celebrate Individuals, Organisations and Businesses Alike Who Have Promoted Equality And Supported Workplace Diversity

By Ciaran Warner

With less than three weeks to go until the inaugural Awards Ceremony for the New Zealand LGBTI Awards, Director and MD of the Awards Silke Bader has praised the many businesses and organisations that are included in the list of finalists, describing each one as having earned its nomination through dedication and support of equality in the workplace and amongst the community at large.

The Corporate Shortlists of the Awards include categories such as Diversity Champion of the Year, and LGBTI Employee Network of the Year, which celebrate businesses that have supported LGBTI employees and ensured a friendly and welcoming workplace environment for all.

These businesses include Air New Zealand, which created its own Pride Network in 2015 and employed their first transgender flight attendant last year, the New Zealand Police, which actively recruit people from the LGBTI community and created the Tamaki Makaurau Rainbow Working Group in 2016, and Fletcher Building, whose famous rainbow-patterned concrete mixer truck has been proudly on display at events such as Big Gay Out and the Auckland Pride Parade.

Also included in these categories are organisations that are centred around providing support for members of the LGBTI community when needed, such as the Christchurch-based 298 Youth Health Centre.

The Youth Centre provides free medical services, counselling and youth work services for young people aged 10-24 years. They are also present in the wider community, speaking at schools and other groups to promote support for those in need.

“They try to make the centre as friendly and welcoming as possible by literally incorporating rainbows into their workplace,” Silke says.

“From the large rainbow arrow directing people to their main door, to the rainbow lanterns in their waiting room, to the rainbow arrows that direct people to the all gender bathrooms, they try and keep their LGBTI clients in mind with everything they do.”

Response from businesses to the opportunity to sponsor the Awards has also been enthusiastic, with businesses such as Countdown, Amazon, Crusoe’s Retreat and American Airlines, the largest airline in the world, lending their support to the Awards and the message they promote.

About the New Zealand LGBTI Awards:

Taking place on November 29th, at the luxurious Cordis Hotel in Auckland, the Awards Ceremony will be a lavish black-tie affair that will see politicians, academics, charity workers and celebrities alike take to the Red Carpet for this celebration of love and equality that is intended to create visibility and role models for the LGBTI community and celebrate its allies.

The Awards will feature drinks, dinner and entertainment, and will feature famous faces such as Tamati Coffey, MC for the evening, Lucy Lawless, Ambassador for the Awards, and the Topp Twins, Jools and Linda, who will be receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award.

To learn more about the New Zealand LGBTI Awards, or to book tickets, visit them here.

Contact New Zealand LGBTI Awards:
Email: silke@newzealandlgbtiawards.co.nz
Phone: +61 2 8097 0054
Website: http://www.newzealandlgbtiawards.com
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/lgbti_nz
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/new-zealand-lgbti-awards/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nzlgbtiawards/

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