As part of its 11-year partnership with the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, ANZ announced survey results about how members of the LGBTIQ community still feel uncomfortable holding hands in public.
Although their research found that 94 per cent of Australians say everyone should feel comfortable holding hands in public, regardless of sexual orientation, only 43 per cent of LGBTIQ respondents feel truly at ease to do so.
It also showed 52 per cent of the LGBTIQ community have felt awks about public hand-holding, compared with 18 per cent of the wider public.
“A simple gesture like holding hands in public is something all Australians should feel comfortable doing,” ANZ’s Managing Director of Corporate and Commercial banking, Mark Hand, who is also Chair of ANZ’s Diversity Council. “This highlights just one of the challenges that many members of the LGBTIQ community face in everyday situations.”
Terese Casu, Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras CEO, added, “It’s a simple and loving gesture to hold your partner’s hand, however for fear of discrimination, and experiences in violence and abuse, the reality is that many in the community still don’t feel safe.”
If you want to encourage members of the LGBTIQ community to hold hands with their partners, use the hashtag #HoldTight on social media.
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