Someone in ANZ’s branding team deserves a pay rise.
For a decade, ANZ has been a proud sponsor of Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, annually converting their automatic teller machines into GAYTM’s.
But this year they’ve really outdone themselves.
Mark Hand, the chair of ANZ’s Australia Division Diversity Council, said his company felt inspired to “take things to a new level” for the anniversary celebration because of how positively the GAYTM’s have been received over the years.
In a press release, Hand commented “diversity, inclusion and respect is an important part of what we do at ANZ so we are particularly proud of our partnership with Mardi Gras which started because our staff passionately believed in supporting the cause 10 years ago.”
10 years ago, members of staff asked if they could march under the ANZ banner. The CEO at the time approved it, and in Hand’s words “it’s just grown from there.”
This year, the bank has been completely rebranded in a baroque-inspired celebration of LGBTI culture. There are ornate walls. There are gay penguins. There are 16 hand-painted murals. There are rainbows. The floor is goddam marble.
“But what if I’m not a GAYNZ cardholder?!” I hear you ask. Well, my eager friend, GAYNZ has you covered. Those pesky-don’t-make-any-sense ATM operator fees will be donated to Twenty10, a not-for-profit organisation which supports the LGBTI community.
GAYNZ, could you get any more fabulous?