To help celebrate this year’s Pride in Liverpool and the 50th anniversary of the modern LGBT+ rights movement, Siemens Mobility has replaced some of the green traffic signals along the parade route with a range of diversity images.
Four special designs have been created to represent different and diverse relationships, using the widely recognised gender symbols. Inspired by a similar set of traffic signals that was produced for London Pride, and subsequently adopted by other Pride festivals, these unique signals were produced by Siemens Mobility to help demonstrate Liverpool’s support for LGBT+ diversity.
Siemens Mobility has changed 18 of the traditional green signals to different diversity symbols, with these remaining in place for the duration of the three-day festival. The signals being changed can be seen at Tithebarn Street / Pall Mall and Tithebarn Street / Vauxhall Road.
Wilke Reints, Managing Director of Siemens Mobility’s Intelligent Traffic Systems business in the UK said,: “Diversity and inclusivity is very important to us and our employees, and this is a great example of a simple idea having a major impact. It is one that was first introduced in London in 2016 and since then has gone from strength to strength.
“For the 2019 celebrations, we’ve worked with local authorities in six cities UK-wide to ensure more diversity symbols are on display than ever before to help raise awareness of LGBT+ issues.”
He concluded: “We are proud to to show our support for Pride in Liverpool in a fun and engaging way by working with Liverpool City Council to use the new symbols on traffic controls in the city.”
Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Peter Brennan, said: “In Liverpool we’re flying flags, lighting up buildings and installing rainbow-coloured steps inspired by the Pride flag - so we’re delighted our traffic lights are also getting in on the celebrations!
“Liverpool is going to be the place to be this weekend and we are ready to show the world that this city stands up to prejudice and is all about equality and love.”
Siemens Mobility has installed the new traffic signals in Liverpool at its own cost.
