Activist group, not NYC transit authority, created LGBTQ pride notice
- This article is more than one year old.
- Published on June 28, 2023 at 21:02
- 2 min read
- By Natalie WADE, AFP USA
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"NYC Subway notice," says a June 26, 2023 tweet from Oli London, an English internet personality.
The post includes a photo of a poster that says: "No bigotry, hatred or prejudice allowed at this station at any time ... Reminder: Respect trans people, or your pronouns will be was/were."
Similar claims spread across Facebook and TikTok after pride parades were held in American cities such as New York and Chicago. The celebrations came amid a surge in anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and disinformation online, which has resulted in the cancellation of some events.
The photo shared online is authentic, but it does not show an official notice from the MTA.
"This is not New York City Transit signage, nor is it authorized to be displayed anywhere in the MTA transportation system," spokesperson Megan Keegan said in a June 27 email.
A reverse image search indicates the photo was first shared on Twitter in June 2021. AFP traced the sign back to the activist organization Pride Train NYC, which designed the notices as part of a campaign celebrating LGBTQ pride month.
View this post on Instagram
The group created similar signs in June 2023 -- but the design is different, featuring an updated pride flag and new text.
View this post on Instagram
More of AFP's reporting on LGBTQ-related misinformation is available here, here and here.
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