Ikea stores around Australia will next week fly the multi-coloured progress flag as a symbol of support and alliance to the LGBT+ community.

On Monday, 17th May, Ikea will celebrate IDAHOT Day – International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia – by raising the flag, designed by artist Daniel Quasar, as part of a narrative that progress is difficult, requires work, guts and imagination. And that there is always more progress to be made.

And, as part of it’s broader equality, diversity and inclusion campaign, the business is helping its staff understand how they can become stronger allies to the LGBT+ community.

“It’s important to realise that we cannot determine elements of a person’s identity just by looking at them,” said Ikea Australia equality, diversity and inclusion leader Alice Young.

“That is why we are also educating our co-workers, including our CEO, about the important of pronouns. Much like our individual names, pronouns articulate who we are and how the outside world should recognise and address us.”

Ikea employees have been encouraged to update their email signatures and LinkedIn profiles with their individual pronoun, such as she/her/hers, he/his, and they/theirs, as a gesture of inclusion to the LGBT+ community.

And, as part of the larger campaign, gender neutral bathrooms have been introduced across Ikea’s stores to ensure all staff and customers feel comfortable and accepted, and staff have been encouraged to participate in this year’s Australian Workplace Equality Index.

And, as far as what Ikea’s customers can do to support the cause, the company will launch a rainbow flag cover for its ENEBY speaker for purchase.