NZ Airport a Safe Space for Fags

[Ryan-NZ]

NZ New Plymouth Airport a safe space for Fags & other Alphabet Freaks

https://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/124355069/new-plymouth-airport-a-safe-space-for-lgbtqi-community

Excerpt: 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 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 of faggotry, 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.

Butt Pirates Approve

"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 non-judgmental environment.

Anyone caught breaching the policy could be removed from the space.