Rainbow spies: New Zealand intelligence community wins 1st LGBTTQI + award

Hollywood might have stereotyped spies as pale, stale masculine women-designs, but that definitely doesn’t ring true of Aotearoa.

The New Zealand intelligence community just won the top prize at this year’s Rainbow Excellence Awards.

The Westpac Supreme Award recognizes the “journey” that the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) and New Zealand Security Intelligence Services (NZSIS) have taken to create more diverse and inclusive work environments.

This has included structural changes initiated through the rainbow-led “Stand Out” committee, to more symbolic gestures, including the meeting room named after Alan Turing, honoring the famous gay British codebreaker, and even hoisting the flag. rainbow over the venue during Pride Week.

Chief Security Officer Rebecca Kitteridge told the Herald that, working with GCSB, they started a couple of years ago with the knowledge they needed to better represent the diverse community they served.

This involved a three-year diversity and inclusion strategy in 2017, which aimed to “bring us out of the shadows,” Kitteridge said.

“There may be a stereotype of what a spy looks like, and it may not be a woman, a lesbian or a gay person, Pasifika, but we want to break those myths and represent every part of our community.

“I can guarantee that we have spies of all the colors of the rainbow.”

Other initiatives included training on unconscious biases, different lived experiences, and development of guidelines for when staff are in transition.

Finn, a NZSIS staff member who was unable to give his real name for security reasons, told the Herald as a gay man that he was “really proud” of the organization and the efforts it had made in those areas.

He participated in the creation of the Stand Out group, led by Rainbow staff and supported management and human resources.

“It makes me feel like I can put my whole being at work.

“My partner comes to work events where other men can bring their wives; everything is very comfortable and it is a nice feeling.”

Kitteridge said the staff’s comments had been “incredibly positive.”

“Everyone is as eager as anyone to get rid of the stereotype. We want to represent ourselves as a modern 21st century organization.

“I hope and hope that there is no reason why someone should not feel completely relaxed putting their whole being at work.”

The annual awards, held at the Auckland Hilton Hotel, bring together organizations that strive to improve diversity and inclusion for all LGBTTQI + people and celebrate progress and achievement.

LGBTTQI + is an umbrella term that includes, but is not limited to, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, Takatāpui, queer, and intersex people.

NZ Rainbow Excellence Awards Director Martin King said the intelligence community’s focus on mirroring the country they sought to protect demonstrated that they were leading the way towards achieving a diverse and inclusive culture.

“This says a lot not only about the New Zealand Intelligence Community’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, but it also positions New Zealand as one of the most progressive countries in the world.

“I am really excited about the momentum that has been generated as a result of the 2020 Awards and the positive direction New Zealand is taking to make our workplaces inclusive for all.”

To celebrate and show your support for the rainbow community, Auckland’s Sky Tower will be lit up in the colors of the rainbow tonight.

The category winners of the 2020 New Zealand Rainbow Excellence Awards:

• Westpac Supreme Award: Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) and New Zealand Security Intelligence Services (NZSIS).

• The SKYCITY Community and Advocacy Award: Auckland City Hall.

• Simpson Grierson Impact Award: Kathmandu Ltd.

• The Partners Life Emerging Award: Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) and New Zealand Security Intelligence Services (NZSIS).

• Newmarket Business Association Executive Leadership Award: Air Marshal Kevin R. Short, Chief of the Defense Force, New Zealand Defense Force.

• The Choir Ambassador Award: Marcel Goulding, ASB Bank.

• Grant Thornton Innovation Award: Auckland City Hall.

• Purple Sherbet Representation in Marketing Award: ASB Bank.

• The Rainbow Tick Training and Development Award: Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) and New Zealand Security Intelligence Services (NZSIS).

• Rainbow Tick Non-Commercial Sector Award: Auckland City Hall.

• Westpac SME Rainbow Inclusion Award Window Protocol, Public Service Commission.