First Bus unveils Pride livery to carry community message across Leeds

A First Bus emblazoned with the Pride colours and a message of community support has been unveiled in Leeds and will travel on routes across the city during the summer.

The bus design has been created to celebrate Pride Month in June and will join in the Leeds Pride parade on Sunday 7 August when tens of thousands of people are expected to take part.

Simon Carlisle, Engineering Director of First West Yorkshire who is also a member the First Bus steering group developing equality and diversity policy, said: “The bus looks amazing and we’re proud to be supporting the message of Pride throughout the community.”

He added: “At First West Yorkshire, we are on a journey to a place where everyone is welcome, can be their true selves and can succeed.

"The Pride community is a really important community in First Bus, and this June we have been building a campaign to recognise the brilliant colleagues we have in the company and educate them in Pride awareness, using the Progress flag to steer this education.”

The Pride bus will begin operating on routes from the city centre through the Headingley corridor and over the coming months is expected to feature on all services across Leeds.

Tony Aimson, Staff Manager at the operator's Hunslet Park depot, said: “At First Bus I have found that the company supports and encourages a fully diverse workforce.  Everybody is welcome from all backgrounds and sexuality and encouraged to progress.  I was unsure when I first started working how I would be accepted, but quickly discovered being gay was not an issue.  I am extremely proud to work at First Bus and with them support all the LGBTQ+  colleagues and customers not only in Pride month but every day.”

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