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Glasgow will have ‘most Pride buses’ in world as LGBT+ attacks rise in city

Horse launched the first Pride bus <i>(Image: Colin Mearns)</i>
Horse launched the first Pride bus (Image: Colin Mearns)

Glasgow plans to have the ‘most Pride buses’ in the world as LGBT+ attacks rise in the city.

Six massive double deckers will be seen in the streets as part of a multi-year partnership between leading transport operator First Bus and Glasgow’s Pride, which kicks off on Saturday, July 15.

It comes after Glasgow's LGBT+ communities have experienced a spike in targeted attacks this year.

Now the buses hope to remind people that supporting equality is more important than ever as LGBT+ Ally roles are crucial.

Today the city celebrated its first ‘Pride Bus’ being introduced, kicking off International Pride month.

Glasgow Times: Musician and songwriter Horse McDonald in her role as Queen of Glasgow's Pride
Glasgow Times: Musician and songwriter Horse McDonald in her role as Queen of Glasgow's Pride

Musician and songwriter Horse McDonald in her role as Queen of Glasgow's Pride (Image: Colin Mearns)

This year will also place the role of women in the LGBT+ equality movement as its theme.

Scottish singer-songwriter, and ‘Queen of Pride’, Horse will be the headline act at this year’s Mardi Gla.

The double-decker bus, adorned with a design that represents the colours of the LGBTQ+ progress flag and the words ‘Love Wins’, is now in service and will remain a permanent fixture for Glasgow, highlighting First Bus’ continuous celebration and support of LGBT+ communities.

The inspiration is the colour blue to represent LGBT+ allies with a clear and distinctive strip to represent those that are LGBT+ and for the first time the logo of the European Pride Organisers Association is featured on a bus.

Glasgow Times: The buses will be seen in Glasgow
Glasgow Times: The buses will be seen in Glasgow

The buses will be seen in Glasgow (Image: Colin Mearns)

A further five buses are set to take to the streets in the coming months which will see Glasgow hold the record for the world’s largest pride fleet.

On the partnership, Horse McDonald said: “I’m thrilled to be a part of this year’s Glasgow Pride and to officially launch Glasgow’s first Pride Bus. I’m so proud that from our small but mighty city we are leading the way in inclusivity.”

Glasgow Times: Horse has been crowned Queen of Pride
Glasgow Times: Horse has been crowned Queen of Pride

Horse has been crowned Queen of Pride (Image: Colin Mearns)

David Christian, Head of HR at First Bus Scotland, said: “Our new fleet of buses have been designed to both celebrate and show our support for the LGBT+ community, and we’re proud to launch such a beautiful, visual demonstration of this to both our workforce, our customers and the communities that we serve.

"We’re excited to be marking the start of our partnership with Glasgow’s Pride and are confident that, working together, we can achieve an even more diverse and inclusive business.”

Euan McLeod, Executive Director of the LGBT+ Cooperative, said: “It’s brilliant to secure this long-term partnership with First Bus because Pride, to us, is never just about one month. We can’t wait to see the full fleet of ‘Love Wins’ buses servicing Glasgow all year round, and we look forward to bringing our wealth of experience to our work with First Bus as we collaborate on their long-term commitments to raise visibility of, and support to, the LGBT+ community.

Glasgow built the ships that sailed the word, the steam trains of empire, the cable car system of San Francisco and will now lead the world in Pride buses taking the message of equality to every corner of our city region."