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.
Progress Pride flags hang high on Regent Street in London on June 18, 2023
Sadiq Khan (right) with parade-goers during Pride In London 2024 on June 29, 2024
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 over the Pride decorations.
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.’
Andrea Williams (pictured), chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, said that the Pride flags were an attack on traditional beliefs about sex and gender
The Progress Pride flag 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
The rainbow flag is carried along Piccadilly by parade-goers during Pride In London 2024
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.’
James May (pictured) has criticised Pride organisers over the number of flags up in Britain’s cities marking the event
Progress Pride Flags decorate Regent Street for Pride 2024, as captured by James May
James May’s post has received criticism from Pride-goers and supporters
James May’s post has received criticism from Pride-goers and supporters
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.’
The Crown Estate declined to comment.
