A new commemorative ‘rainbow’ birth certificate is now available for people in New South Wales, designed to celebrate LGBTIQA+ families ahead of Mardi Gras this weekend.
“The launch of our Rainbow certificate provides a special way for people to celebrate the birth of a new family member and uplift and empower the LGBTIQA+ community,” NSW Registrar Amanda Lanna said.
The NSW government decided to launch the initiative after receiving overwhelming support for the rainbow design in a recent survey.
The rainbow birth certificate, has been designed by Sydney based artist, illustrator and animator Monica Higgins, who is known for bold and colourful designs. The design shows colourful, genderless native Australian animals as Rainbow families amid some iconic Sydney landmarks.
“I’ve removed gender from the focus of the illustration to give our rainbow families the freedom to be seen as they wish to be,” Higgins said.
Higgins, who identifies as queer, will donate $1 from the sale of each Rainbow certificate to Twenty10 Twenty10 incorporating Gay and Lesbian Counselling Service NSW, a community-based non-profit that provides specialised support to young people of diverse genders, sexes and sexualities.
“It is so important to me that LGBTQIA+ youth feel safe, validated and understand that they are not alone and Twenty10 do an excellent job of making this happen,” Higgins said.
The rainbow birth certificate joins a growing range of commemorative birth certificates available in NSW, including ones with Indigenous art, the Chinese zodiac, NRL and rugby union teams, Australian classics, baby handprints, May Gibbs illustrations and Peppa Pig.
Commemorative birth certificates in NSW can be obtained at any time for people of any age born or adopted in the state.