Melbourne venues are putting up rainbow stickers to show they're LGBTQI+ safe spaces

"We’re offering free rainbow stickers to businesses and organisations in Victoria who want to send a message to LGBTI people that they are a welcoming space," says Victorian Human Rights Commissioner Kristen Hilton.

Staff from Heart Attack & Vine Bar in Melbourne, displaying the HRC's rainbow flag stickers. Source: Supplied

Cafés, bars, live music venues, and other businesses in Victoria are placing rainbow flag stickers out the front of their venues to show that they are a LGBTQI-friendly venue, and a safe space for LGBTQI folks during the same-sex marriage postal survey. 

As a part of Wear it Purple Day on Friday last week, the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission started offering free rainbow flag stickers to businesses all throughout the state.

The Commission believes that offering these simple visual signifiers of safe and inclusive spaces for LGBTQI Victorians is essential, particularly during the same-sex marriage postal survey.

“While many people are approaching the debate with respect and dignity, there are those who are seeking to drive fear and hate to divide our community," said Commissioner Kristen Hilton.

"Already we’ve seen some people promoting hateful and inaccurate material about LGBTI people, along with attempts to conflate marriage equality with completely unrelated issues, like parenting. Even the most resilient of LGBTI people and the broader community may be hurt and disturbed by the things they hear throughout the debate."

"We’re offering free rainbow stickers to businesses and organisations in Victoria who want to send a message to LGBTI people that they are a welcoming space in the lead up to the plebiscite."

One venue that took the VIC HRC up on their free sticker offer was Heartattack & Vine, a café and wine bar located on Lygon Street in Melbourne's CBD.

Heart Attack & Vine, displaying the Victorian HRC's rainbow flag sticker on their doorway. Source: Supplied

Nathan Doyle, a staff member at Heartattack & Vine, said the business wanted to make sure every member of the local community would feel welcomed and at home.

"We love all members of our community and are proud of the diversity of our staff and customers," said Doyle.

"We've put up the rainbow flag to send the message that Heart Attack and Vine is a welcoming and inclusive space for LGBTI people, particularly during this hurtful public debate on marriage equality."  

To get a free rainbow sticker for your business or organisation in Victoria, you can email the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission at [e-mail].

If you're struggling and need to talk to someone due to the same-sex marriage debate, look into some local support services - people are here to help.