LGBTQ+ community stories told on the TfL network to mark Pride 2023

• A London Overground train, an Elizabeth line train, a double-decker bus and an engineering train are wrapped for Pride   
• Community voices amplified through messages and artwork from staff in stations  

LGBTQ+ personalities including Drag Race's Bimini, stylist Gok Wan, DJ and writer Nick Grimshaw and dancer Queen MoJo are joining with Transport for London (TfL) to celebrate Pride across the capital's transport network.

The stars will be telling their stories as part of a poster campaign, alongside further LGBTQ+ community stories and vehicle wraps ahead of London's Pride celebrations on Saturday 1 July.

The posters have been created to amplify voices within the community to inspire passengers to share their own stories under TfL's #EveryStoryMatters theme. A diverse range of people are being featured on TfL's posters this year including drag superstar, Bimini; stylist, Gok Wan MBE; dancer and fashionista, Queen MoJo; comedian, Dee Allum and drag queen, Asifa Lahore as well as staff members. As well as showcasing TfL's diverse workforce, staff members have expressed their Pride creativity through designs, poems and craftwork. In addition, TfL's whiteboard posters in various stations are being adorned with quotes from LGBTQ+ books, such as "Soft Lad" by Nick Grimshaw which are available as e-books on TfL's Book Club website.

Also on the network, a number of TfL services including a London bus, a London Overground train, an Elizabeth line train and an Underground engineering train have been wrapped in a unique and vibrant design. The design, shaped by the lived experience of the LGBTQ+ community, reflects the diversity of London and will be seen by people across London to as far as Essex and Reading. Customers using the route 63 bus between Honor Oak and King's Cross can already see the design which has been on display since mid-June.

Deputy Mayor for Transport, Seb Dance, said: "As London's Pride celebrations approach, I'm delighted that we are once again using the TfL network to celebrate our fantastic LGBTQ+ communities. From sharing the stories of Londoners to wrapping trains in this distinctive livery, we are joining together to show the world that in London we celebrate our diversity."

London Night Czar, Amy Lamé, said: "Our LGBTQ+ communities make an enormous contribution to life in our capital and this year's campaign across the transport network is a wonderful way to celebrate that.  Across the globe too many people still face prejudice because of who they are, and we are seeing very troubling efforts to stifle hard won rights, so it is more important than ever that we stand together in solidarity and celebration." 

Patricia Obinna, TfL's Director of Diversity & Inclusion, said: "This year's Pride campaign on our network seeks to amplify the important voices and rich stories within the diverse LGBTQ+ community. Services across TfL are displaying a vibrant design in support of the LGBTQ+ community and this year's corporate message of "Every Story Matters" has also been brought to life through our partnership with well-known LGBTQ+ personalities and with the unwavering support of our Colleague Network Group, OUTbound, who helped to shape this campaign.  

"We are proud to continue to support Pride by sharing Pride messages across our network, and we hope people connect with the different stories as they travel on our network." 

Bimini, a drag artist who is part of the campaign, said: "It's incredible and amazing to highlight people's experiences of being part of the LGBTQ+ community cause it's not always easy for everyone. If you're younger and you see people speaking about what they've been through, it makes you feel seen and heard."

Building on TfL's strong legacy in supporting Pride and the LGBTQ+ community since its formation, TfL has been part of the parade in London since 2006. The London bus with the Pride design will also accompany people representing TfL in the Pride in London parade on 1 July. At the Pride in London 2023 parade on Saturday 1 July, the TfL contingent will march under banners of the Women, Faith, RACE, Carers, Parent and Guardians, and Disability Colleague Network groups as well as the OUTbound banner to highlight the many aspects of the LGBTQ+ communities of London. TfL will also have presence at the London Trans+ Pride, Croydon Pride, UK Black Pride and Bi Pride.   

TfL has carried out a number of schemes to promote inclusivity including the introduction of diversity traffic signals, a range of rainbow-wrapped vehicles on the transport network, community-inspired posters as well as regularly featuring inclusive roundel designs bearing colours of Pride flags on the network during Pride. 

ENDS

Background information:

• For more photos, please contact the Press Office by emailing pressoffice@tfl.gov.uk 
• The wrapped Overground and Elizabeth line trains, engineering train and bus have been funded by TfL's partners Arriva Rail London, MTR Elizabeth line, Hayley Rail, Abellio and Global 
• The wrapped London Overground train across its five carriages can be seen on the following routes from 26 June:  
• Richmond/Clapham Junction - Stratford 
• Dalston/Highbury & Islington - West Croydon/Crystal Palace/New Cross 
• The Elizabeth line train, wrapped at both ends of the train, will be travelling between Shenfield and Reading and Heathrow through central London stations from 30 June
• An engineering locomotive has been wrapped for the first time and will be visible on the London Underground network 
• The wrapped bus can be seen on route 63 between Honor Oak and King's Cross 
• Posters with leading LGBTQ+ figures can be found at the following stations:
• Asifa Lahore - Victoria and Green Park Tube station, West Croydon Overground station
• Bimini - Victoria and Green Park and London Bridge Tube station (Duke Street Hill entrance)
• Dee Allum - Victoria and Green Park Tube station and Limehouse DLR station
• Gok Wan MBE - Victoria and Green Park Tube station and Bond Street Elizabeth line station (Hanover Square ticket hall area)
• Julian Hows - Victoria, Green Park and Earl's Court Tube station (Platform 3)
• Marc Thompson - Victoria, Green Park and Brixton Tube station 
• Queen MoJo - Victoria and Green Park Tube station and New Cross Gate Overground station
• TfL staff portrait posters and their artwork will be displayed at Victoria, Green Park and Vauxhall Tube stations as well as at DLR, London Overground and Elizabeth line stations
• Pride poetry written by staff will be recorded and played out at Covent Garden Tube station from 1 July to help customers get into the spirit of Pride 
• Station whiteboard posters featuring quotes from LGBTQ+ books featured on TfL's Book Club can be found at most London Underground, Elizabeth line, DLR and London Overground stations. The books spotlighted are "Soft Lad" by Nick Grimshaw and "Mad Honey" by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan 
• Within TfL, staff are welcome to join network groups such as OUTbound and LGBTQ+ Allies. The groups are for members of staff who would like to learn more about LGBTQ+ issues and support LGBTQ+ communities. The groups have increased awareness and provided employees with a forum to ask questions and share advice, providing a more inclusive environment for staff and customers 
• TfL urges anyone who experiences or witnesses a suspected hate crime to report it to the police immediately. People can report incidents of abuse and harassment including suspected hate crime by texting 61016 for incidents on the Tube and rail or calling 101 for incidents on buses or streets. In an emergency or if the suspect is still on scene, they should call 999 
• TfL continues to take a stand against hate crime with a recently launched campaign that aims to encourage a culture of active bystanders on public transport by highlighting how customers can safely intervene if they witness incidents of hate crime on public transport: https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2023/march/tfl-continues-to-take-a-stand-against-hate-crime-and-abuse-this-national-bystander-awareness-day-with-new-active-bystander-campaign  
• A hate crime is any crime perceived by the victim or any other person to be motivated by hostility on the grounds of five main characteristics: race, religion, sexual orientation, disability or transgender identity