Transport for London has celebrated London’s LGBTQ+ community by installing ten special Pride roundels across the Tube network.

Londoners travelling by Tube will be able to see the fantastic roundels which have been designed by staff members and prominent figures in the LGBTQ+ London Community as part of Transport for Londons (TfL) ongoing support for the community.

The roundels have been placed right across London and bring both positive messages, vibrant colours and visual depictions representative of the London LGBTQ+ community. Each of the 10 locations were chosen by those creating the artwork with special reference to position such as Vauxhall station which is at the heart of an area with strong significance for the LGBTQ+ community, also chosen were Brixton, Caledonian Road, Hammersmith and Baker Street.

Five of the roundels were created by TfL staff and five by talented and inspiring LGBTQ+ Londoners including London’s Night Czar, Amy Lamé; broadcaster and historian, Tim Dunn; activist and campaigner, Marc Thompson; designer and creator of the ‘La’ T-shirt, Philip Normal and prominent museum curator, Dan Vo. The roundels are inspired by stories of true-life experiences, personal journeys and hopes for the future throughout the LGBTQ+ community. Themes also include the impact of the pandemic on people’s lives in the community and also more widely. 

The roundels display and connect the diversity and unity that symbolise Pride and as the roundel has also been a symbol of London for over 100 years the use of the special shape is intended to spread messages of love, support, compassion and hope on the public transport network in the form of design. Each of the artworks features information about the designer and an explanation about the piece right next to the roundel.

TfL is celebrating and supporting the LGBTQ+ community through the collaboration every day and wants to provide a platform and voice for their wonderful messages of hope, love, compassion and unity. The celebratory project also intends to inspire conversations about issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community. 

A public poster campaign has also been created which includes proud TfL LGBTQ+ staff members which are displayed in North Greenwich, Vauxhall and Green Park Tube stations. The posters are of the staff members with their partners and are intended to encourage people to celebrate and be proud of who they are and also to show support for the LGBTQ+ community. The roundels and posters will be available to see for at least a month.

Pride is also celebrated all year round at The London Transport Museum with London’s original LGBTQ+ rainbow pedestrian crossing which is on display at the museum in Covent Garden. The crossing was commissioned by TfL’s LGBTQ+ Staff Network Group, OUTbound and was temporarily put in place at the junction of Pall Mall East and Suffolk Street during 2014 and was later preserved by The London Transport Museum.

Following the pandemic London’s public transport network is playing a massive role in getting life back to normal after lockdown for meeting friends, family or support circles, getting to work or education or visiting the capital. 

2021’s celebration has built on TfL’s strong legacy support Pride since it was founded. This year would have been the 15th anniversary of TfL taking part in London’s Pride Parade and have undertaken a number of projects which promote inclusivity, these include bringing in diversity traffic signals, rainbow wrapped vehicles on the transport network as well as the regular inclusion of roundel designs featuring colours of the Rainbow, Bi, and Trans Pride flags on the network during the Pride celebrations.

Amy Lame, London’s Night Czar who created a design, said: “When I first arrived in London I was acutely aware I was walking in the steps of my LGBTQ+ fore-siblings and I would regularly take the Tube and bus to visit spots linked to them. I was really honoured to be asked to create a roundel, and my Oscar Wilde design aims to encapsulate London’s rich LGBTQ+ history and also show a pathway to the future. As more people return to public transport, it feels really special that ten Pride roundels will be on display across the network – clearly showing that in London you can be who you want to be and love who you want to love.”

Marc Thompson, whose design is featured said: “I’m really delighted to have been asked to provide A design for a roundel for Transport for London for Pride. It’s a real honour to have the words of Joseph Beam, a Black, queer activist and writer in such a prominent position. I’ve chosen these words and this image because I wanted honest visibility and representation of Black queer men to be highlighted in the London Underground. I am particularly proud that this roundel will be placed in Brixton where I was born and raised, and this station is central to my journey as a Black queer man in this city.”

Sarah, an analyst at TfL whose design is also featured said: “I am so excited that my design has been chosen. I feel that I am making a positive contribution towards making a difference. This means so much to me in particular for the future of our younger generation. I know our daughters will be so proud. Hoping that one day we will all be treated equally regardless of who we are or who we love and if we believe, anything is possible.”

Marcia Williams, TfL’s Director of Diversity, Inclusion & Talent said: “We celebrate the LGBTQ+ community every day, and Pride is an important celebration to us. This year, at TfL, to mark our continuous commitment and support we have installed roundels specially designed by staff and prominent figures in the LGBTQ+ London community. We have transformed our stations and platforms into a place for positive messages of hope, love, compassion and unity that encourage important conversations around issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community, as we see more people returning to the public transport network to enjoy what London has to offer.”

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