How to be an LGBTIQA+ Ally as a Wedding Supplier

In 2017 we achieved marriage equality and  7 years on, our couples are more diverse than ever! But it’s not just ‘same sex’ - lesbian or gay couples that are getting married, it’s also gender diverse and bisexual people too! The term gender diverse means; people who don’t identify with the gender they were assigned at birth. Simply put, they may not identify as the gender they seem. Also, couples who may appear to be in a heterosexual relationship, may not be straight. 

Chan and Lindsay may appear as a heterosexual couple, but they're queer. Their sexuality and gender may not be obvious but are diverse nonetheless. This is why we never make assumptions based on appearance.

With that being said, there are some really simple adaptions you can make to the language you use when working with new couples to identify them without offence. Below are 10 quick tips to get you started.

1. Get rid of the language ‘bride and groom’ when referring to couples. Use the term ‘the couple’ instead. 

2. Refer to couples by their names instead of ‘the bride/s’ ‘the groom/s’

3. Don’t assume someone’s gender or sexuality based on their appearance. Also best not to assume someone’s gender based on the tone of their voice during a phone call

4. Have your own pronouns displayed in your email signature eg. She/her, he/him, they/them

5. Ask couples for their pronouns in your enquiry forms so you don't assume gender is attached to a name 

6. ‘Same Sex’ is the legal term, but it’s not a word that many LGBTIQA+ couples really identify with, use it minimally 

7. Use imagery in your marketing that reflects diversity, be aware if your website and social media has only imagery of straight couples 

8. Show up and speak up as an ally when you see people making inappropriate comments (but please don’t shame them for it, that's not helpful for progress it just creates more division)

9. If you make a mistake, apologise and move on. Please don’t make it about you. 

10. If you don’t feel comfortable working with LGBTIQA+ couples, then don’t. But refer them to suppliers who identify as LGBTIQA+ so they can have a loving and affirmed experience. 

Yes, sexuality, gender and pronouns can feel rather new and confusing; but for people who identify as LGBTIQA+ it’s wonderful to feel affirmed and truly seen on their wedding day. These small changes can make a world of difference.

Don't be frightened, we're all human <3

If you want some more information on inclusivity, you can find many informative resources here https://www.minus18.org.au/resources/