Diversity and Inclusion Statement

aka - ‘You Are Welcome Here’

I’ll say it again: You Are Welcome Here.

I acknowledge my privilege as a pakeha, cis woman, married to a man. It is my aim that I can recognise that privilege and use it to create a safe space that is welcoming and inclusive for anyone who wants to work with me.

Same sex marriage wasn’t legal in New Zealand until 2013. When I got married in Australia in 2016 it still hadn’t been legalised. If I’d fallen in love with someone who wasn’t a cisgendered man we would have had to wait another 18 months. Homosexuality was a criminal act in New Zealand until 1986, Australia in 1994, and is still illegal in 69 countries. Trans and non-binary people suffer from psychological distress at rates nine times higher than the general population.

Any love story, family, or friendship is one I want to capture. Your ethnicity, gender identity, or sexual orientation are all welcome.

Most important of all, I am open and welcome to constructive criticism and promise to receive any information or feedback in a way that will allow me to learn. I promise to lay aside my ego and welcome the opportunity to change and grow.

It’s important to me that this isn’t performative allyship. It would be easy for me to type these words and leave it at that, patting myself on the back for my impressive wokeness. I’m pledging that as soon as I turn a profit I’ll donate 10% of my income to Inside Out. The newly formed Nelson Pride will have my personal and professional support, always. And I’ll end by saying this: If you or your business do not hold these views then, with respect, I would rather not work with you, please give your money to someone else.