Public Transit Agencies Celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride Month

Public transit agencies across the U.S. and Canada have been celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride Month (June) and honoring the contributions of LGBTQ+ communities with special vehicle wraps, events, and more.

To celebrate Pride Month, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) announced the return of its Pride Train on the Red Line, an eight-car train wrapped in the colors of a rainbow. This year marks the seventh anniversary of the Pride Train. Complementing the Pride Train, CTA and Ventra have also re-launched the Pride Signature Ventra Card.

“This tradition is a point of pride for our agency and is a celebration of the community that we serve,” said CTA President Dorval R. Carter, Jr. “Our hope is that the annual Pride Train welcomes both new riders to the system and reinforces the feeling of safety and inclusion we want all our riders to feel.”

This year’s train features a new design, which will cover the entirety of the train. The 2024 design is an evolution of the previous year’s line-art, using bands of color like the transit map lines, but with a curved and inverting rainbow pattern forming shapes.

For the second consecutive year, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) kicked off Pride Month by raising the Pride Flag at its San Jose headquarters.

VTA Assistant General Manager and CFO Greg Richardson was MC for the event. “Today, we stand in support of our LGBTQ community and the community at large,” he said. “We celebrate the diverse culture that exists in our world, a diversity that helps us become better people—more caring, more supportive, and more accepting.”

VTA Board Chair Cindy Chavez highlighted the agency’s efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. She discussed an initiative that began with employees undergoing year-long training with the Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GAER) and how it evolved into VTA establishing a dedicated Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion department.

In celebration of Pride Month, the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) and San Diego Pride unveiled a new bus wrap featuring a Pride Flag.

“As chair of the Metropolitan Transit System, I am proud to see our buses wrapped in Pride colors, symbolizing our commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equality,” said Stephen Whitburn, MTS chair and San Diego city councilmember. “This vibrant display not only celebrates Pride Month but also sends a powerful message of support to the LGBTQIA+ community. At MTS, we are dedicated to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all of our riders and employees.”

MTS also announced its participation in the San Diego Pride Parade July 20, featuring the new Ride with Pride bus. “Access is a vital part of fostering an inclusive and thriving LGBTQIA+ community,” said Jen LaBarbera, San Diego Pride co-executive director. “We are thrilled to partner with MTS to make San Diego Pride greener and even more accessible.”

For the second year, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) is the official transit partner for LA Pride. The agency’s Ride with Pride trains and buses have hit the streets, with trains running on the E and A Lines and buses servicing the Downtown and Hollywood area.

Metro also has a new Pride TAP card that agency staff will be distributing at Pride events. In addition, L.A. Union Station is lit up with Pride colors. The agency also participated in (and helped sponsor) the Long Beach Pride Parade for the first time.

In Canada, the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) announced its month-long celebration of Pride with the raising of the Progress Pride Flag and an unveiling of the TTC Pride Bus at the agency’s flagship Hillcrest Complex.

The theme of this year’s TTC Pride Bus is ‘BE Moved’, celebrating the right of 2SLGBTQ+ people to simply BE.

“As we raise the Progress Pride Flag and reveal the Pride Bus, the TTC is proudly demonstrating our commitment to diversity and inclusion with our more than 16,000 employees, and all members of the community,” said CEO Rick Leary. “We are excited to stand with the 2SLGBTQ+ community and look forward to celebrating Pride Month with our employees and customers, united in our mission to create a more welcoming and inclusive transit system for everyone. Happy Pride!”

The Pride Bus is operating on the 94 Wellesley route and featuring in this year’s Pride Parade.

“Thank you to the TTC for joining the City in celebration of Pride, and for highlighting the fundamental right of 2SLGBTQ+ individuals to be their authentic selves without fear or discrimination,” said Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow. “Let’s take the TTC to all the fabulous Pride events happening this June, and let’s create a transit system where everyone feels welcome, valued, and accepted. Happy Pride Month Toronto!”

This June, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA / Metro) is celebrating Pride Month with a specially wrapped train, bus, and Pride merchandise.

This year’s theme is “Be True. Be You. On Metro.” The colorful wraps mirror Capital Pride’s 1980s and ‘90s theme for the year.

The bus will be part of the Pride parade along with nearly 100 Metro employees, who will hand out sweatbands, stickers, bandanas, and flags.

Metro is also selling Pride-themed shirts, mugs, and more.

TriMet, Portland, OR, is recognizing Pride Month with a bus featuring art by Portland artist Daniel Quasar, entitled “From Progress To Beyond.”

Quasar’s design serves as a vibrant tapestry of inclusivity and representation. The bus will be on the streets for the next year and will feature at the Portland Pride Parade on July 21.

APTA is proud to celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride Month. June is a time to recognize that public transit doesn’t just carry people to a destination, it advances equity by making opportunities accessible to all.

APTA’s LGBTQ+ Resource Group represents a wide span of members from across the LGBTQIA+ spectrum. Over the past year, APTA has expanded the group’s activities, awareness, and promotion to include educational programming at the association’s mobility conferences in 2023 and 2024; networking events at all of APTA’s large conferences that have drawn crowds of more than 150 people and multiple sponsors for each; a mission and vision statement for the group; a tour of the Pulse nightclub memorial at EXPO in 2023; and the rollout of the “We All Belong” and “Safe Space” programs with corresponding name badge ribbons for each. Request to join APTA’s LGBTQ+ Resource Group on APTAconnect. Learn more about APTA’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion and access a wealth of resources here