The Rainbow Tick
An award for inclusive
practice for LGBT people
Barnsley LGBT Forum Community Rainbow Tick
The Rainbow Flag
The Rainbow flag has been seen as many things for many years, but more recently
has come to be recognised as a symbol of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and
Transgender (LGBT) community. In 1978, in response to a local activist’s call for a
community symbol, Gilbert Baker of San Francisco designed and made a flag,
originally with eight stripes, but later changed to one with six stripes. These
represent six of the colours of the rainbow as a symbol of gay and lesbian
community pride. Today it is recognized by the International Congress of Flag
Makers, and is flown in lesbian and gay pride marches worldwide.
The 6 stripe flag does seem to be the flag of choice over the world and probably so
for a simple reason of recognition: the flag is often used to mark gay, gay friendly
(and in some places, gay safe) establishments.
The meaning of the rainbow flag:
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red: light;
orange: healing;
yellow: sun;
green: calmness;
blue: art;
lilac: the spirit;
(Wikipedia, March 2009)
The Rainbow Tick
In Barnsley, the LGBT community has called for a
certification mark to demonstrate LGBT friendly and
LGBT safe organisations, businesses and venues; the
Rainbow tick. This mark will be used as:
An award to organisations, businesses and venues,
in recognition of their commitment to, and
demonstration of, equality and inclusive policies,
practices and behaviour for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual
and Transgender communities.
The Barnsley LGBT Forum has developed this
certification mark and will provide clear assessment
criteria to work from and on-going guidance and advice to achieve the mark.
Nationally the LGBT community have given examples of the intolerance and
prejudice sometimes shown towards them by people in larger organizations, pubs,
clubs, businesses and services by a lack of understanding stemming from prejudice
and homophobia and lack of knowledge/understanding about LGBT needs.
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These include:
Two women were enjoying a drink at a venue, standing close together at the
bar, when the bar tender leaned over and physically separated them
Other customers complaining about an overtly gay couple, and the gay couple
have been asked to leave, rather than the person complaining (frequent
occurrence). A national news report found the same issues in a London Pub in
April 2011.
These are examples of the intolerance and prejudice that mar our community and
will be a barrier to the aims of may Councils. For example the One Barnsley
Sustainable Community Strategy 2008 -2020 and the Local Area Agreement.
The Barnsley LGBT Forum works in close partnership with organisations such as,
Stonewall, Berneslai Homes, Barnsley Council, South Yorkshire Police, the NHS
Health Sector and Voluntary organisations to achieve the ambitions and outcomes of
the Sustainable Community Strategy and Local Area Agreements. It is recognised
that this award will impact on a wide range of organisations.
The Sustainable Community Strategy and the Governments new “Big Society” has
the following ambitions for Local Authorities:
For Example it links to ONE Barnsley Strategic Aims by:
Ambition
‘Barnsley is one of the safest towns in Yorkshire.’
The Council and its partners in One Barnsley have established a Community Safety
Service to continue to strengthen its approach to community safety and wider
enforcement issues.
One of the partnerships under the One Barnsley umbrella directly working for the
benefit of the LGBT community is the Strategic Hate Crime Reduction Initiative Multi
Agency Panel. The Barnsley LGBT Community Forum is represented on this panel
and contributes to its work.
Ambition:
‘Local organizations recognise for its community spirit and diversity.’
Local Authorities recognises there challenge to support diverse communities and
enable them to engage in community activity and get on well together, whatever
their social and cultural background. They aim to achieve an increase in the
percentage of residents who believe that people from different backgrounds get on
well together.
For example, The LGBT community took part in the All Barnsley Diversity Festival in
2008, and its Gay Pride event launched the 2009 and 2010 festivals. The LGBT
Community Forum is part of the All Barnsley Diversity Festival steering group, and
their work clearly contributes to this Ambition.
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Ambition:
‘Promote, at home and abroad, as a great place to live, work and visit’.
The Rainbow Tick has an ambition to show; improving people’s perceptions,
informing people that organisations holding the Rainbow Tick has changed and is
changing, positioning of the organisation as a place worth working with and in a
positive environment where people can live in safety, visiting, working and for setting
up a business. These are important messages for the LGBT community, so they can
take part in working towards Barnsley becoming a great place to live, work and
socialise.
Supporting Local Authorities:
The Local Area Agreement includes the following desired outcomes:
Outcome 1 – Protecting the community from crime, disorder and other safety
risks
This outcome is focused upon the safety of people’s day to day lives. By working in
partnership with agencies to increase the reporting of hate crime, and taking part in
raising the profile of the LGBT community at inclusive events, the LGBT Forum are
contributing to the achievement of this outcome.
Outcome 2 – Building cohesive and enterprising communities
This outcome recognises that cohesive and enterprising communities are more likely
to be built if they are supported by active, engaged and empowered citizens working
in partnership with public agencies and elected representatives.
The LGBT Forum are making a valuable contribution to this outcome, working with
agencies on community engagement activities, and developing their own annual
action plans and initiatives such as this one. They have gained the support of the
Mayor and Deputy Mayor to open several of their events.
Outcome 3 – Building the brand
How the borough of “the organisation or location” – including its many small
communities and neighbourhoods – is viewed by residents, visitors, businesses and
people outside the borough is important to its reputation and future.
The LGBT Forum does, and will continue to contribute to this outcome by holding
inclusive events that demonstrate Barnsley is a welcoming place for all communities,
including those that may have traditionally been ‘hidden’.
It is recognised that some organisations may immediately meet the requirements of
the certification mark and others may need some support to achieve the right to
display the mark.
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The Benefits of the Rainbow Tick
The benefits to businesses and stakeholders:
The Rainbow Tick will support the successful organisations by promoting them
to the LGBT communities via web links and other media
Acting as a medium to promote the successful organisation to other LGBT
companies
The Rainbow Tick will enhanced the Stakeholders reputation for inclusiveness
and equality good practices
To demonstrate that the successful organisation is a safe organisation where
the LGBT community can feel and supported
Statutory organisations prefer to work with ethical businesses and those who
can demonstrate a commitment to equality and inclusive practices
The Rainbow Tick is a good way to demonstrate core values
To make the LGBT community feel respected and supported
To improve the health & wellbeing of the LGBT community, to breakdown
barriers and reduce hate crime
Successful Holder of the Award:
Acknowledges that this is an annual award and is assessed against a strict criteria and
scoring system undertaken by qualified teacher assessors who have many years of
assessing experience and qualifications within the teaching industry.
Organisations who are successful with obtaining the Rainbow Tick will receive either the:
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Rainbow Tick Gold award for high quality ethics & practices towards the LGBT
communities
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Rainbow Tick Silver award for continued development of ethics and practices
towards LGBT Communities
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Rainbow Tick Bronze award for developing ethics and practices to the LGBT
community
Statement of Commitment
The LGBT Forum believe the Rainbow tick should have a statement of commitment
which organisations and venues should ‘sign up’ to before being awarded the
Rainbow Tick certification mark.
The organisation will be subject to an assessment that will be carried out for each
organisation, business and venue, to evaluate how they meet the statement of
commitment in order to be awarded the certification mark, using specific criteria and
feedback from the general public. Were necessary an action plan will be introduced.
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