Airport backs LGBTQI+ community
New Plymouth Airport has joined a list of a dozen Taranaki locations recognised as a safe space for the LGBTQI+ community.
In an emailed statement, the airport said it was now registered with the Safe Space Alliance, a non-profit started by New Plymouth-born artist and advocate for the LGBTQI+ community Shannon Novak.
Among the other safe locations already in Taranaki are Puke Ariki, the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery/ Len Lye Centre, the Gover St Gallery, Centre City Shopping Centre and the Taranaki Retreat.
To become safe spaces an organisation or site must apply online and be accepted by the alliance, which verifies each place’s safety with members of the LGBTQI+ community in the area.
In a joint statement with the airport,
Novak said a safe space was one where the LGBTQI+ community can freely express themselves without fear.
It does not guarantee 100 per cent safety, rather, it’s a space that ‘‘has your back’’ if an incident (violence, bullying, or hate speech) were to occur, he said.
‘‘So if I walked into the airport holding hands with my partner, and someone started hurling homophobic abuse at me – I would feel confident knowing I could alert someone in the airport to the behaviour and be supported.’’
Airport safety and security manager Paul Tench said being a safe space dovetailed with the airport’s equality policy, which strives to ensure a nonjudgmental environment.
Anyone caught breaching the policy could be removed from the space.
‘‘We will also support Air NZ and all other tenants of the terminal if they have an issue with any type of abuse from a customer by removing them from the terminal and airport grounds,’’ the statement said.
‘‘This is essentially what having your back means, we support everyone in the terminal should the occasion arise,’’ it said.
Airport marketing co-ordinator Jacqui Brown said it was an easy decision to join the alliance.
Brown said the airport was also working on an instalment for Pride Week in April to show further support for the LGBTQI+ community.
Airport marketing coordinator Jacqui Brown said it was an easy decision to join the alliance.