London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s initiative to decorate buses and trains with the Progress Pride flag was met with a wave of homophobic responses, highlighting the ongoing struggle for LGBTQ+ acceptance.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s recent initiative to celebrate Pride by adorning a selection of buses and trains with the Progress Pride flag was met with an unexpected surge of homophobic backlash. The decorated public transport vehicles featured a diverse array of cartoon characters and the message “every story matters” inscribed on the sides.
On the morning of June 27, Khan shared images of the Transport for London vehicles on social media, captioning them: “All aboard for Pride. What a fantastic way to help spread the message that in London, you are free to be whoever you want to be, and love whoever you want to love.” He concluded with the hashtag #LondonForEveryone.
All aboard for Pride! 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
What a fantastic way to help spread the message that in London, you are free to be whoever you want to be, and love whoever you want to love.#LondonForEveryone pic.twitter.com/LG32KJlXKC
— Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan (@MayorofLondon) June 27, 2023
Despite the positive intent behind the initiative, numerous responses across social media platforms were laced with homophobia and negativity.
One Twitter user criticized Khan, claiming he made London “10x worse.” Another argued that Pride was being “pushed in your face,” adding, “If you are gay, great, get on with it, no need to broadcast it all over.”
A recurring theme among the comments was the notion that the initiative was a waste of time and resources. Some comments included slurs and derogatory language aimed at the LGBTQ+ community. Additionally, there were anti-trans comments, with some users criticizing the use of the Progress Pride flag, which represents trans and black queer individuals.
Interestingly, some of the backlash targeted Mayor Khan himself due to his Muslim faith, with critics claiming that he should not support Pride as a Muslim. The timing of the post, coinciding with the Day of Arafah, an Islamic holiday, seemed to further fuel these criticisms.
Amidst the sea of negative comments, there were a few voices of support. One Instagram user, identifying as Muslim, penned a lengthy comment urging “all the haters” to learn coexistence. They expressed happiness at seeing Khan’s post and emphasized the importance of visibility for LGBTQ+ individuals within the Muslim community.
This incident underscores the ongoing challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community in gaining acceptance and the importance of continued efforts to foster inclusivity and diversity. It is crucial for society to recognize and respect the diverse tapestry of identities and stories that make up our communities.