Author: Besi

Mark Mackenzie honoured for services to Equality.

Mark has been awarded an MBE (Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) for his contribution to the way Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT) people are treated whilst working on or travelling on London’s transport network.

Sir Peter Hendy CBE, London’s Transport Commissioner, said: “I would like to congratulate Mark on this special recognition. It is well deserved and demonstrates the commitment and passion our staff have for each other and the communities they serve each day.”

Mark Mackenzie MBE, a HR specialist at Transport for London, has made a huge contribution to the way LGBT staff are treated as well as the wider LGBT community when they are travelling on London’s transport network.

He is a founding member of TfL’s staff network group for LGBT staff and, as past chair of the group, led support for Pride in London. During the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, he worked as a Travel Ambassador and has been a champion within TfL for London’s bid to host the 2018 Gay Games.

Mark is also a representative for OutWest, the support group for the LGBT community in west London. He has led work with British Transport Police to reduce hate crime on public transport. This led to a Hate Crime Best Practice Guide for the force and to the monitoring and reporting of hate crime across TfL’s transport networks.

London is set to see its first ever rainbow zebra crossing as part of Transport for London’s (TfL’s) support for the Pride in London event on Saturday, June 28.

The rainbow crossing, similar to ones that have appeared in Tel Aviv, Sydney and Brighton, will be in place for one day only during the parade at the junction of Pall Mall East and Suffolk Street, on the site of an existing pedestrian crossing. The parade will be passing very close to the colourful crossing, which will provide onlookers with a great photo opportunity.

Leon Daniels, Managing Director of Surface Transport at TfL, said: “We’re delighted that for this year’s Pride in London event, we will be installing the first ever rainbow zebra crossing in London to celebrate the event, and as we continue our Year of the Bus celebrations, it’s only fitting that we continue with the tradition of our iconic open top bus transporting our staff around in the parade.”

Pride in London, one the largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, & transgender (LGBT) events in the world, is funded by the Mayor of London and this year will see TfL’s iconic open-top bus at the head of the parade.

TfL’s LGBT+ Network has also commissioned 200 limited edition posters in conjunction with London Transport Museum, which will go on sale in the run up to Pride to celebrate Year of the Bus, and 75 Barclay’s Cycle Hire bikes will carry a special Ride with Pride logo during Pride week.

Martyn Loukes, Chair of TfL’s LGBT+ Network, said: “I promised last year that I would make this happen, and I’m really pleased that for one day, people will be able to compose their very own Beatles photo or selfie on our Rainbow Crossing. They’ll also be able to ride with pride on one of our specially adorned Barclays Cycle Hire bikes. Every year London Pride gets bigger and better and this shows real support from so many organisations to make this crossing happen and is a fantastic thing for the LGBT+ Community.”

The crossing was made possible after an initial approach by Mike Freer, Conservative MP for Finchley and Golders Green, who first suggested the idea in 2012. Since then TfL’s LGBT+ Network has worked with Westminster council, The Metropolitan Police, Underbelly, London LGBT+ Community Pride and sub-contractors Applied Outdoor Media to make the crossing a reality.

Mike Freer, said: “I am delighted that London will have its own ‘rainbow crossing’ to celebrate London Pride. London is one of the most diverse cities in the world and in the year that Same Sex Marriage became legal, it is a wonderful symbol of London’s vibrant LGBT community.”

Around 100 TfL staff, their partners, family and friends will be taking part in this year’s event and will be on the second bus at the head of the parade.

For more information about London Pride, CLICK HERE:

Stonewall launch App and Instagram campaign to celebrate 25th anniversary.

Stonewall and SNOG Frozen Yoghurt have launched a joint campaign to celebrate 25 years of the lesbian, gay and bisexual equality charity and look forward to the next 25 years.

The #FirstSNOG campaign, an online interactive photo exhibition, will celebrate Stonewall’s 25 years of campaigning so that lesbian, gay and bisexual people are free to love and be loved.

The exhibition, already features famous supporters of Stonewall including Harry Styles, Rita Ora, Sam Smith, Nick Grimshaw, Calvin Klein, Florence Welsh, Boy George and Katy B.

To view the exhibition, CLICK HERE: 

An exclusive SNOG app, designed by Carri Munden of Cassette Playa, is available to download for the general public to voice their support as well as upload their own #FirstSNOG picture.

To download the app, CLICK HERE: 

Speaking about the collaboration and the brands support of Stonewall, SNOG founders Rob Baines and Pablo Uribe said: “This year has been an exciting year for SNOG, we launched our first range that you can enjoy at home and we wanted to mark this by supporting a cause personal to our hearts – people’s freedom to SNOG who they want. You never forget your first SNOG and it should not matter who that is with. We admire and respect the work of Stonewall and are proud to be part of the 25th year celebration. We commissioned Cassette Playa as we loved the freedom and vibrancy of Carri Munden’s graphic sensibility and we are thrilled so many of the SNOG fans have got involved in the campaign.”

Ruth Hunt, Acting Chief Executive of Stonewall, added: “In our 25th year we know that there’s still so much work to do. Around the world in countries like Russia, Nigeria and Uganda, LGBT people are being oppressed and persecuted simply because of who they are. We’re excited to collaborate with SNOG to help us continue to campaign for LGBT equality around the world.”

As well as raising awareness, SNOG is helping Stonewall to raise funds via their London based shops where a special Stonewall serving, featuring a selection of rainbow coloured fruits, will be available for the duration of the Stonewall 25 celebration. A donation of £3 can be made to Stonewall by texting ‘SNOG’ to 70300, with proceeds going towards the charity’s continued international work.

To view Stonewall’s new website to celebrate everything that has been achieved over the last 25 years: CLICK HERE: