It’s nice when something invisibly quotidian is tweaked in a way that grabs your full attention. Previously we’ve talked about slightly altered street signs and artistic renderings of subway maps, and now the humble cash machine gets an eye-grabbing makeover in the interest of LGBTQ inclusivity.
The machines were created by Australia and New Zealand bank ANZ as an extension of their sponsorship of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. The super-colorful cash points come in a variety of LGBTQ-related designs, including tributes to the bear subculture and Dykes of Bikes, and are temporarily installed near Pride events.
▼ Here’s one for the drag queens!
▼Bears, but not the man-eating kind. Oh wait…
▼Super hot superheroes.
▼ I would make a joke about Dykes of Bikes, but they could easily tie me up like a pretzel. Hot.
In addition to being a highly visible gesture of support, ANZ donates the operator fees from the GayTMs to Twenty10, a community-based, non-profit organization, supporting people of diverse genders, sexes and sexualities.
Not everyone is thrilled with the campaign, though. Some have called it pinkwashing, using a gay-friendly marketing approach to draw attention away from negative aspects of a company. One group went so far as to splash pink paint over a couple of ANZ branches, saying, “As queer subjects, we object to the representation of queer identity in terms of consumptive and wealthy citizens.”
Whether you feel it’s a well-meaning effort or cynical appropriation, you’ve got to love those designs. I wish my local ATM was half so shiny and fun.
H/T Jin 115, mUmBRELLA
Photos and video ANZ Australia
Saitama is home to the best strawberries in Japan that you’ve probably never even heard of
Tokyo Skytree turns pink for the cherry blossom season
Survey finds that one in five high schoolers don’t know who music legend Masaharu Fukuyama is
Highest Starbucks in Japan set to open this spring in the Tokyo sky
Yakuzen ramen restaurant in Tokyo is very different to a yakuza ramen restaurant
Saitama is home to the best strawberries in Japan that you’ve probably never even heard of
Tokyo Skytree turns pink for the cherry blossom season
Survey finds that one in five high schoolers don’t know who music legend Masaharu Fukuyama is
Highest Starbucks in Japan set to open this spring in the Tokyo sky
Yakuzen ramen restaurant in Tokyo is very different to a yakuza ramen restaurant
Adorable Totoro acorn key holders come with a special guest hidden inside[Photos]
What’s the best way to spend 1,000 yen at Kura Sushi?【Japan Super Budget Dining】
Host club royalty Roland demonstrates his night-time routine, claims it’s not dissimilar to yours
Japanese potato chip Rubik’s Cubes coming soon
Problem solved: How to open a Japanese convenience store onigiri rice ball【Pics and video】
The 10 most annoying things foreign tourists do on Japanese trains, according to locals
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Naruto and Converse team up for new line of shinobi sneakers[Photos]
Is Sapporio’s Snow Festival awesome enough to be worth visiting even if you hate the snow? [Pics]
Japan has trams that say “sorry” while they ride around town…but why?
Sakura Totoro is here to get spring started early with adorable pouches and plushies
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura Frappuccino for cherry blossom season 2026
Poop is in full bloom at the Unko Museums for cherry blossom season
Now is the time to visit one of Tokyo’s best off-the-beaten-path plum blossom gardens
Playing Switch 2 games with just one hand is possible thanks to Japanese peripheral maker
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Foreigners accounting for over 80 percent of off-course skiers needing rescue in Japan’s Hokkaido
Super-salty pizza sends six kids to the hospital in Japan, linguistics blamed
Foreign tourists in Japan will get free Shinkansen tickets to promote regional tourism
Take a trip to Japan’s Dododo Land, the most irritating place on Earth
Archfiend Hello Kitty appears as Sanrio launches new team-up with Yu-Gi-Oh【Pics】
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Adorable Totoro acorn key holders come with a special guest hidden inside[Photos]
What’s the best way to spend 1,000 yen at Kura Sushi?【Japan Super Budget Dining】
Host club royalty Roland demonstrates his night-time routine, claims it’s not dissimilar to yours
Japanese potato chip Rubik’s Cubes coming soon
Problem solved: How to open a Japanese convenience store onigiri rice ball【Pics and video】
New zombie ship sets sail in Japan, includes Shinkansen tickets and all-you-can-eat sushi
Getting a driver’s license in Japan the hard way: The first written test
Chinese classroom introduces roller coaster-style desks, hopes to protect kids’ eyesight
Japan’s new instant noodle Rubik’s Cube is fiendishly hard【Photos】
JR East announces awesomely cheap one-day all-you can ride pass, Shinkansen included
Electric conveyor belt sushi kit brings the fun of a revolving sushi restaurant into your home
Burgers soaked in a plate of hot cheese served at American Diner Andra in Tokyo