Lead Pic: Bimini
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, July 1.
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; 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.
Seb Dance, Deputy Mayor for Transport, 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.”
Amy Lamé, London Night Czar, 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.”