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This morning at the ANZ Ponsonby branch, OUTLineNZ General Manager Trevor Easton was joined by ANZ staff Teresa Cropp and Toni Fraser, Branch Manager Richard Neame and comedian Urzila Carlson to unveil the bank’s new award-winning GAYTMs.

The world-famous GAYTMs celebrate diversity and show the bank’s support for the Auckland Pride Festival and the LGBT+ community and are located at ANZ Ponsonby and ANZ 45 Queen St until Monday, 27 February.

The two ATMs have a carnival-themed surround, designed by Auckland artist Tony Graystone, which matches this year’s Festival’s theme: “Pride & Progress: The Carnival Continues“.

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“This is the third year we have had GAYTMs to celebrate the Pride Festival in Auckland. As well as looking sensational, the GAYTMs this year carry a message that the LGBT+ community should ‘#HoldTight’ and be comfortable expressing themselves in public,” said ANZ Managing Director Retail and Business Banking and ANZ NZ Pride Network sponsor Antonia Watson.

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Recent ANZ-commissioned research found that the LGBT+ community was more than twice as likely (39%) than non-LGBT+ (18%) to feel uncomfortable holding hands in public and so last Friday, ANZ dropped their #HoldTight campaign, urging the LGBT+ community to hold hands in public. The campaign launched with an emotive film, exploring how LGBT+ couples feel reluctant to hold hands in public and features the tagline: “When you feel like letting go, #HoldTight.”

“Sadly, many members of the LGBT+ community still struggle with the smallest actions of affection in public. As well as the glamour of the GAYTMs, this year we are focusing on an empowering message,” Ms Watson said. “This is also a great message for our staff as we want them to be true to themselves at work.”

ANZ will donate 50 cents from every GAYTM transaction to OUTLineNZ, a not-for-profit counselling service that supports people dealing with gender and sexuality issues.

“ANZ is a long-standing supporter of the Pride community, so we’re pleased to again partner with OUTLineNZ and be our own helping hand to those who are struggling,” Ms Watson said.

Easton said the #HoldTight campaign not only sends an important message to the LGBT+ community, but helps their important work.

“Last year OUTLineNZ responded to over 10,000 calls, many from people struggling to feel accepted or worried about the reaction to their sexuality from others,” Mr Easton says, “The #HoldTight campaign delivers a meaningful message while also helping to fund our work to counsel people through difficult situations.”

For those unable to visit a GAYTM to support OUTLine, donations to OUTLine can be made at https://givealittle.co.nz/org/outline.

ANZ has five staff infinity groups, including a Pride group, who drive participation in events like the Auckland Pride Parade.

ANZ has also partnered with Twitter and created a custom emoji, which appears when people use the hashtag #HoldTight. The bank has also developed a limited edition custom wristband, which will light up when people hold hands. The wristbands will be worn by attendees at both the Auckland Pride Parade and Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.

#HoldTight ANZ Wristbands

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