‘Christian’ threatens legal action against Camden Council over set of zebra crossings painted in Trans Pride colours
– 1 min read
A ‘Christian’ woman from London is threatening legal action against Camden Council over a set of zebra crossings painted in the colours of the trans pride flag. The crossings, located at the junction of Tavistock Place and Marchmont Street in Bloomsbury, were installed in November 2021 to mark Transgender Awareness Week and celebrate the borough’s LGBTQ+ history.
Blessing Olubanjo, 57, an evangelical ‘Christian’ and member of the ‘Christian Peoples’ Alliance Party’, argues that the pink, white, and blue crossings constitute “unlawful political messaging” and infringe on her rights as a Christian. Supported by the ‘Christian Legal Centre’, she claims the installation breaches Section 2 of the Local Government Act 1986, which prohibits councils from promoting politically controversial viewpoints.
“As a Christian and a taxpayer, I should not be made to feel excluded or marginalised by political symbols in public spaces,” Olubanjo said. “This crossing sends a message that only one viewpoint is welcome, and that’s not right in a truly democratic society.”
Camden Council has previously stated that the crossings were intended to celebrate diversity and raise awareness, not to promote any political ideology. However, Olubanjo’s legal team contends that the location - near the now-closed Tavistock Centre, formerly home to the NHS’s Gender Identity Development Service - adds to the political symbolism.
When the crossings were first unveiled in 2021, Councillor Abdul Hai described them as “an impressive visual statement” celebrating trans awareness and the borough’s rich LGBTQ+ history.
