How to be LGBTQ Inclusive as a wedding Supplier

In 2017 we achieved marriage equality in Australia, and 7 years on, our couples are more diverse than ever! This means many wonderful vendors are educating themselves on how to be LGBTQ Inclusive as a wedding Supplier, which we love to see!

Here are some helpful tips to get you started!

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.

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 causing upset or offence.

Below are 10 tips to help you be a better Ally when marrying queer couples!

Chan and Lindsay, may appear to be a heterosexual couple, but they aren't...They're queer which means their sexuality and gender are not as they may appear...

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 don’t 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 

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 online and speak up as an ally when you see people making inappropriate comments, but please don’t shame them for it

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

10. If you don’t feel comfortable working with LGBTIQA+ couples, then don’t. But try to refer them on 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 your wedding day. These small changes can make a world of difference. Most importantly - don't be frightened, we're all humans at the end of the day!

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