Inclusivity Logo adopted by City of Albany after some debate and a councillor being told to ‘sit down’

Albany councillors have endorsed efforts to create a more welcoming environment at City buildings and events, but the adoption of its new inclusivity logo came with some debate and a councillor being told to repeatedly sit down by the mayor. Councillors voted 11-1 on Tuesday to endorse the new logo which has been three years in the making, becoming the first known local government to take such a step. The logo features four interlinked puzzle pieces representing a commitment to creating an accessible community, the diverse cultures in the community, the Indigenous custodians of the land, and sexually and gender-diverse community members. The logo’s development was driven by the Youth Advisory Council following consultation between 2016 and 2018 which found there were barriers preventing some community members feeling safe at City facilities and events. During public question time, YAC member Kore Ford spoke strongly in favour of the logo and how it would serve as a welcoming message for a diverse community. Mx Ford said endorsing and showing the logo would “let people know that they won’t be harassed or treated differently in a negative way based on diversity”. “Over the past few years there have definitely been a few local organisations identified by the queer community as ‘no-go zones’ for events as they as they are places we don’t feel safe or welcome at, I’m sure those that identify with the other tiles would have similar experiences,” they said. “(The logo) will denote buildings and events where I know I will be free to attend, express myself and wear my pride and pronoun pins without fear of being harassed just for being me.” “Should the logo be adopted tonight, the City of Albany would be the first local government that we are aware of to actively demonstrate their dedication to creating an inclusive community.” The logo was co-designed over 15 engagement dates with five key stakeholders between July 2020 and September 2021. Councillors voted in favour of the recommendation to endorse the use of the inclusivity logo on “City of Albany buildings and selected publications”. It said endorsement of the logo would “ensure diverse young people feel welcomed and valued at City of Albany venues and events, which will aid in supporting positive mental health”. Crs Chris Thomson and Sandie Smith both spoke in favour of the motion. “I think Kore said it better than I could and it came from the heart from someone who did not feel welcome at some our facilities,” Cr Thomson said. “This to me is all about evening up the ledger ... I think it really does cater for a number of, possibly all of, the groups marginalised in our society.” Cr Smith congratulated the YAC for its work to “care for each other in the community to come up with this solution and overcome some of the barriers that people of privilege don’t quite understand, or can’t understand because they don’t face those inequities”. Cr Thomas Brough spoke against the motion, and was the only one to vote against it. He said he “praised the intent of identifying levers to improve the emotion wellbeing of sub-groups in out community”, but said it would not address its stated objectives. He said the “temptation to coddle and overprotect beyond legitimate care and comfort is wrong” and it was not the role of local government to “parent society”. “The (World Health Organisation) defines mental health as a state of wellbeing in which an individual realises his or her abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life and work productively,” he said. “Without exposure to ‘normal stresses’ young people will not have the stimulus to flourish into resilient adults. “The inclusivity logo, as such, has a stultifying effect on self-actualisation. “Safe spaces can render their resident unsafe for surviving in an incredibly challenging world.” Mayor Dennis Wellington had to repeatedly tell Cr Brough to sit down after he continued speaking beyond his allotted four minutes. “Please have the enough manners to respect the rest of the council, everyone else does,” Mr Wellington told Cr Brough.