Network Rail slammed for building ‘Pride Pillar’ of LGBT flags

Network Rail has come under fire for installing a “Pride Pillar” of multicoloured LGBT flags at London Bridge station.

The railway company claimed that the display, which includes the ‘polyamory’ flag, ‘pansexual’ flag, and ‘non-binary’ flag, will “help prevent confusion and misunderstanding about identity” and demonstrate an “inclusive environment”.

But in a letter to Network Rail’s Chief Executive Officer, campaign group Sex Matters said the “highly political display” contravenes the company’s own ban on political advertising.

‘TERF’

Sex Matters stated: “The flags now on display at London Bridge belong to a political movement that is not simply about non-discrimination, but is about imposing the belief that gender identity replaces sex on everyone.

“It views those who disagree (those who hold ‘gender critical’ views) as fair game for intimidation, harassment and discrimination. This display of political flags is intimidation to anyone who disagreed with this movement, whether staff or passengers.”

Shane Andrews, Chair of Network Rail’s LGBT employee network, dismissed criticism tweeting: “No time for TERFs. They’re not even worth my energy replying/arguing/debating”. He later deleted his account.

‘TERF’ stands for Trans Exclusionary Radical Feminist, a slur commonly used for women who say a male cannot become female.

‘Excommunicated’

Writing in The Daily Telegraph, journalist Suzanne Moore said: “We have seen in the recent slew of tribunal cases, from gender-critical social worker Rachel Meade to academic Jo Phoenix” that “what is done in the name of ‘inclusion’ is its very opposite”.

“In this doublespeak, inclusion now means paying lip service to an ideology that many of us never bought into in the first place. If you don’t, you will be excommunicated.”

She added: “I don’t need that affirmation in a train station. I need the trains to run on time, I need lifts to work for friends in wheelchairs, I need enough staff around to ensure that women feel safe at night.”

Train

In 2020, Avanti West Coast was accused of “virtue signalling” for creating an LGBT-themed train painted with the movement’s multi-coloured flag.

The train included pro-LGBT literature and onboard announcements. Its first journey was only staffed by those who identify as “LGBTQ+”.

The move was met with a social media backlash from passengers who said they would prefer the state-subsidised train operator to focus on its service rather than promoting a controversial agenda.