Latest news with #ChristianLegalCentre
Daily Mail
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Christian residents launch legal challenge over trans pedestrian crossings that 'excluded and marginalised' them from affluent London neighbourhood
A Labour-controlled council is facing legal action from outraged Christians over pedestrian crossings painted in the colours of the transgender -friendly Pride flag. Four crossings were installed in upmarket Bloomsbury, central London, by Camden Council in 2021 to 'support the LGBTQ + community' and 'reflect the fabric of the public realm'. But opponents claim the crossings - which cost taxpayers £10,464 - constitute unlawful political messaging and make Christians feel 'excluded' and 'marginalised'. The legal challenge invokes the Local Government Act 1986, which bars councils from publishing material that 'promotes a political party or a politically controversial viewpoint'. The crossings - painted white, pink, and blue to represent the trans community - are situated between Tavistock Place and Marchmont Street. Blessing Olubanjo, 57, is leading the claim with the support of the Christian Legal Centre. The Camden resident has sent a pre-action letter to the council and claims she will begin judicial review proceedings if the crossings are not removed. She said: 'I brought this case because I believe in fairness, freedom of belief, and the proper role of public institutions. Four crossings were installed in upmarket Bloomsbury, central London, by Camden Council in 2021 to 'support the LGBTQ + community' and 'reflect the fabric of the public realm' 'As a Christian and a taxpayer, I should not be made to feel excluded or marginalised by political symbols in public spaces.' When they were installed, the Camden Council said: 'The LGBTQ+ community are part of the fabric of Camden and specifically Bloomsbury and officers consider that this should be reflected within the fabric of Camden's public realm.' It said there had been 'a small number of concerns raised around disability access of coloured crossings - particularly regarding those with visibility impairment'. Charities for people who are visually impaired and legally blind warned the colours could cause confusion. And groups representing people with learning difficulties also said there could be a detrimental impact. Now Ms Olubanjo's lawyers have contended that the crossings constitute a violation of political neutrality laws - and a breach of the Public Sector Equality Duty due to 'risks to disabled and neurodivergent individuals'. She likened Camden Council to an 'ideologically captured local author[ity]', adding: 'This crossing sends a message that only one viewpoint is welcome, and that's not right in a truly democratic society. 'I'm standing up not just for myself, but for everyone who feels silenced or sidelined by discredited harmful activism forced on the public by ideologically captured local authorities.' Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, said: 'Not only is this crossing a matter of public safety and Christian freedom, it's about the misuse of public resources for political campaigning. 'The crossing is a visual endorsement of a contested ideology, installed by a public authority in breach of its legal duties. 'This is not the role of local government.' In response to Ms Olubanjo's claims, a council spokesperson said: 'Camden is "no place for hate" and we have a strong and continuing history of respect and support for everyone in our borough. 'We fight discrimination in all its forms and this includes being an ally to our trans residents. 'These crossings are a visual statement to help celebrate transgender awareness and act as a reminder of the rich LGBTQ+ history and daily life in the Bloomsbury area and across Camden.'
Metro
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Metro
Council could be sued over trans flag zebra crossings
A London council has been threatened with legal action over four zebra crossings painted in the colours of the transgender flag. The pink, blue and white crossings in Bloomsbury were introduced by Islington Council in November 2021 to celebrate trans awareness and serve as a reminder of the LGBTQ+ history in the area. Now an evangelical Christian resident, Blessing Olubanjo, claims she will sue the local authority if they fail to remove them. Ms Olubanjo said she shouldn't be made to 'feel excluded or marginalised by political symbols in public spaces' and that public spaces should not 'advance divisive agendas' and 'alienate people of faith'. She has been backed by the Christian Legal Centre, who called the crossings 'a visual endorsement of a contested ideology'. The crossings, at Tavistock Place and Marchmont Street, faced criticism even before they were installed, with The Royal National Institute for the Blind warning they could be hazardous for visually impaired people. Transport for London's Independent Disability Advisory Group, meanwhile, said individuals with disabilities, dementia or sensory sensitivity could become anxious by the colours or find it difficult to interpret the abstract shapes. Ms Olubanjo, 57, said she brought this case because she believes in 'fairness, freedom of belief, and the proper role of public institutions'. With thousands of members from all over the world, our vibrant LGBTQ+ WhatsApp channel is a hub for all the latest news and important issues that face the LGBTQ+ community. Simply click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! Don't forget to turn on notifications! She added: 'As a Christian and a taxpayer, I should not be made to feel excluded or marginalised by political symbols in public spaces. 'This crossing sends a message that only one viewpoint is welcome, and that's not right in a truly democratic society. 'I'm standing up not just for myself, but for everyone who feels silenced or sidelined by discredited, harmful activism forced on the public by ideologically captured local authorities.' Ms Olubanjo argues that the crossings breach political neutrality rules under the Local Government Act 1986. She also says they infringe on freedom of belief and expression under the Human Rights Act 1998. The Christian Legal Centre's chief executive, Andrea Williams, said: 'The crossing is a visual endorsement of a contested ideology, installed by a public authority in breach of its legal duties. More Trending 'This is not the role of local government. Public spaces should be able to be used by everyone, not to advance divisive agendas that alienate people of faith and those who hold to biological reality. 'The council needs to remove or redesign the crossing and apologise to its residents and local businesses.' At the official opening of the crossings, then-councillor for Islington, Abdul Hai said: 'Camden is renowned for being 'no place for hate' and a borough that has a strong and continuing history of respect and support for everyone. 'These amazing crossings are not only an impressive visual statement to help celebrate transgender awareness, but also act as a reminder of the rich LGBT+ history and daily life currently in the Bloomsbury area and across Camden and should prove to be a popular draw to this vibrant area.' Metro has contacted Islington Council for comment. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Posh London restaurant fined £31,000 after dead mouse found in kitchen MORE: Eurostar delays and 'café car raids': what to do if your cross-channel train is disrupted MORE: Mum hits back at TfL for 'blaming her' for losing arm and leg under Tube trains
Daily Mail
14-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Threat to women-only wards as zealot doctors say: Defy trans ruling and allow trans patients to self-identify
NHS doctors will brazenly call on colleagues to overrule the Supreme Court and allow trans patients to self-identify, it has emerged. Activist members of the British Medical Association want doctors to vote for 'identity-based care' at its conference later this month. Campaigners fear this could lead to biological men who identify as women being put in female-only wards or other single-sex spaces. And it would put doctors on a collision course with the UK's highest court after judges ruled in April that the term 'woman' referred to biological sex and not gender. Last night, Bethany Hutchison, a member of the Darlington Nurses, who won a landmark battle for a female-only changing room after claiming NHS transgender policies breached their human rights, said the motion 'puts an extreme and discredited ideology ahead of the proper medical care of vulnerable patients'. She added: 'Doctors and nurses are being dragged into an ideological conflict they didn't ask for.' Andrea Williams, of the Christian Legal Centre, said if adopted, the policy 'could create chaos'. Delegates meeting in Liverpool are due to discuss proposals to 'affirm the right of all LGBTQ+ patients and staff to identity-based care and working conditions'. The motion presented by its London regional council calls on the BMA, which represents 200,000 medics, to produce 'guidance and a lobbying strategy to embed this principle' across the NHS. But voting for it would go against the views of Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who admitted his previous comment that 'trans women are women' was incorrect. Helen Joyce, of the Sex Matters charity, said some at the BMA want to 'abandon evidence and reason'. The BMA was also criticised for opposing the Cass Review, which found children were being let down by gender identity services. The union later said it will undertake its own evaluation of the report.
Daily Mail
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Christians vow to sue 'Wokeminster' council if they put up trans-inclusive flags for Pride month
A Christian company has vowed to sue a council dubbed 'Wokeminster' over plans to hang up trans-inclusive flags to mark Pride Month. In collaboration with Westminster City Council, the Crown Estate, who own the majority of properties on Regent Street, plan to fly Progress Pride flags in 20 locations throughout the central London area between mid-June and mid-July. But if the proposed decorations are hoisted into the air within the next week, the council, nicknamed 'Wokeminster' by its own chief executive Stuart Love, and the Crown Estate risk facing legal action from the Christian Legal Centre. Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, told The Telegraph that the Pride flags were an attack on traditional beliefs about sex and gender. She warned that the Christian Legal Centre would have no option but to pursue legal action if the council chooses to proceed with the Pride display, arguing that everyone should feel welcome in Regent Street. Ms Williams said: 'They send the message that people holding these views – which are worthy of respect in a democratic society – are not welcome. 'The majority of the public do not know the highly controversial and harmful symbolism presented by the Progress Pride Flag.' The Pride flag was created by American artist and gay rights activist Gilbert Baker and was first displayed in 1978 as a symbol of the LGBTQ+ community. The Progress Pride flag, designed by artist Daniel Quasar, is an amended version including black, brown, pink, pale blue and white stripes to represent people of colour within the LGBTQ+ community, the trans community and those living with HIV/AIDS. Ms Williams continued: 'This ideology has been discredited by the Cass review, the closure of the Tavistock, and most recently Supreme Court ruling. When will the Crown Estate catch up with the rest of society?' In April, five Supreme Court justices ruled that the legal definition of a 'woman' in the 2010 Equality Act refers 'to a biological woman and biological sex'. Lord Hodge said he recognised 'the strength of feeling on both sides' and cautioned against seeing the judgement as a triumph for one side over another, stressing that the law still gives trans people protection against discrimination. Despite this, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch praised the ruling as a 'victory' for women and said it meant the 'era of Keir Starmer telling us women can have penises has come to an end'. The landmark ruling could have far-reaching implications on how sex-based rights apply, including how women-only spaces are allowed to operate. Vicky Lee, founder of the Way Out Club, urged the Christian Legal Centre not to pursue legal action. She argued they would need to sue 'for every pair of hot pants, every T-shirt and every flag worn as a cape because Pride Month is here and the superheroes [trans community] are not going away anytime soon.' Other London-based trans activists including Dee Chantelle who runs a pub called Zodiac in Camden, told the publication that the threat of legal action is just another way to ignore the existence of trans people. More than one million members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies are expected to take to the capital on July 5th for Pride in London. The colourful parade will make its way through Piccadilly Circus and Regent Street before concluding at Westminster. Last year's Pride organisers were criticised by none other than James May for the sheer number of flags flying in Regent Street. The Top Gear star took to social media to arguing that the LGBTQ+ decorations could be seen as 'authoritarian' and 'oppressive'. He also suggested that World War Two started with too much bunting. His X/Twitter post read: 'Pride: while I have observed and admired what you have achieved over my lifetime, may I respectfully suggest that you are borderline guilty of Too Much Bunting (TMB). It may be seen as authoritarian, and therefore oppressive. 'Please remember that some terrible things, with which you would not wish to be allied, began with TMB. World War Two, for example. Nice flag, though.' In the comments, one person wrote: 'I hope you're not insinuating that somehow the LGBTQ+ community is somehow in danger of starting WW3 because of some rainbow flags James?' May stood firm in his stance and said: 'I'm not, no. Stand down'. Another replied: 'Respectfully, comparing the LGBT community to Nazis is very offensive. Very disappointed, James.' But May refuted the claim that he was comparing the LGBT community to the Nazis and responded with: 'I haven't done, though, have I?' A spokesperson for Westminster City Council said: 'The council supports festivals and celebrations from our different communities across the year. Pride is an annual and established fixture and has been supported by the council for many years. 'Pride flags are in keeping with a cosmopolitan city that welcomes millions of visitors every year. All public community celebrations have a fixed duration and are both proportionate and fitting. 'Given similar pronouncements in previous years we await further information about the Christian Legal Centre's legal challenge with interest.'
Telegraph
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
‘Wokeminster' council faces legal action over trans Pride flags
A council nicknamed 'Wokeminster' by its own chief executive is facing legal action over plans to hang trans-inclusive Pride flags throughout the area, the Telegraph can reveal. The Crown Estate, which owns the majority of property on Regent Street, lodged plans earlier this year to hoist flags in 20 locations between mid-June and mid-July as part of Pride Month. However, Westminster city council and the Crown Estate now risk facing legal action in the form of a judicial review from the Christian Legal Centre if the proposed decorations are put up next week. The Progress Pride flag is an amended version of the 1978 rainbow-coloured Pride flag and includes black, brown, pink, pale blue and white stripes, which represent people of colour in the LGBTQ community, the trans community and those living with HIV/Aids. Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, told The Telegraph she believed the flags were an 'attack on historic, traditional beliefs about sex and gender'. She added: 'They send the message that people holding these views – which are worthy of respect in a democratic society – are not welcome. 'The majority of the public do not know the highly controversial and harmful symbolism presented by the Progress Pride Flag.'
