The Welcome Here Project
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What Does the Welcome here Sticker Mean?
You may have spotted the rainbow Welcome Here sticker displayed at Broadway Sydney and wondered what it represents.
It's more than a sticker. It's a visible commitment to creating a place where LGBTIQ+ people feel safe, welcomed and respected.
At Broadway Sydney, we're proud to be a registered Welcome Here member, joining thousands of businesses, organisations and community spaces across Australia that are committed to celebrating diversity and fostering inclusion. The programme helps businesses create environments where everyone can feel comfortable being themselves, whether they're shopping, dining, meeting friends or simply spending time in the community.
A history of Visibility and Support
The Welcome Here Project evolved from the original Safe Place Project, which began in 1998 in response to high levels of street-based violence directed towards Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer (LGBTIQ+) people.
At the time, participating businesses displayed a Safe Place sticker in their window to let community members know they could seek refuge if they felt threatened or unsafe. The simple act of displaying a sticker became a powerful symbol of support, safety and solidarity.
While society has changed significantly since then, creating truly inclusive communities remains an ongoing journey. The Welcome Here Project was established to continue that work, shifting the focus from providing refuge in times of crisis to actively creating welcoming spaces where LGBTIQ+ people can feel valued, visible and celebrated every day.
What is the Welcome Here Project?
The Welcome Here Project supports businesses and organisations across Australia to create and promote environments that are visibly welcoming and inclusive of LGBTIQ+ people.
From local cafés and restaurants to supermarkets, gyms, theatres, shopping centres and community organisations, registered members proudly display the Welcome Here sticker to demonstrate their commitment to inclusion.
Participating organisations also adopt a Welcome Here charter, helping bring that commitment to life through everyday actions, conversations and experiences. The aim is simple: to help ensure LGBTIQ+ people know they are welcome wherever they go.
What it Means at Broadway Sydney
For us, inclusion isn't limited to a single month or event.
While many visitors discover Broadway Sydney during Mardi Gras season, our commitment to creating a welcoming environment extends throughout the entire year.
As a Welcome Here member, we aim to create a space where every member of our community feels comfortable and respected. Whether you're grabbing a coffee before class, meeting friends after work, enjoying a family day out, or simply stopping by to shop, we want Broadway Sydney to be a place where everyone feels they belong.
That commitment comes to life through initiatives such as our Mardi Gras celebrations, partnerships with community organisations including Rainbow Families and the Rainbow Shoelace Project, support for awareness campaigns such as Wear It Purple Day, and ongoing efforts to foster an inclusive and welcoming experience for all visitors.
Why Visibility Matters
Sometimes the smallest gestures can make the biggest difference.
A sticker in a window, a Pride flag, visible signs of allyship or inclusive language can send a powerful message to someone who may be wondering whether they'll be accepted in a space.
The Welcome Here Project recognises that visible support helps create safer, stronger communities. When people know they are welcome, they are more likely to participate, connect and thrive.
That's why we're proud to display the Welcome Here sticker at Broadway Sydney. It represents our commitment to fostering a place where people from all backgrounds, identities and experiences can feel safe, seen and supported.
Because everyone deserves to feel welcome.
And everyone belongs here. 🌈