Sutton, South London, is now home to the UK’s first-ever trans Pride road crossing, with the new feature having been unveiled on the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia And Biphobia (May 17). According to the Sutton council, the pedestrian crossing is designed to be a “visible celebration of Sutton’s transgender community and a sign of the inclusivity of the borough.”
Jake Short, Sutton council’s lead member for equalities who helped bring the project into reality, said: “I am delighted to see this celebration of the richness and diversity that our transgender community brings to Sutton. Until transgender people and other minority groups are able to live without fear of discrimination or hate, we must continue to demonstrate our support and stand with them to clearly demonstrate our commitment to eliminating transphobia.”
Rachel Simpkins, Sutton LGBTQ+ Forum’s Trans Project lead, added: “Our hope is that this trans crossing will pave the way for more trans crossings around the UK which in turn would lead to more inclusivity in our society at large.” The creation of the trans crossing follows the installation of the first permanent rainbow crossing in 2019, which can be found in Lambeth.
