Link: https://www.gbnews.com/news/west-midlands-gay-railway-volunteer-banned-gender-critical-views
Credit: Lewis Henderson, GB News
Archive: https://archive.ph/kFDvJ
Matthew Toomer, a gay man, was removed for expressing gender-critical views
A gay volunteer has been banned from West Midlands Railway's (WMR) "Adopt a Station" scheme after expressing gender-critical views about the company's "Progress Pride" train.
Matthew Toomer, 48, was removed from the volunteer programme after privately contacting company bosses to express concern about the train's rainbow branding.
He also commented on social media, questioning if the train would "return to its natural state once the event is over".
Following these actions, Toomer was summoned to a meeting where he was told his views "do not align with [WMR's] values and mission".
He was subsequently banned from the Redditch station volunteer group.
WMR had rebranded one of its trains last summer with a "rainbow diamond motif" similar to the Progress Pride flag.
The Free Speech Union (FSU), representing Toomer, has written to the rail operator about the incident.
The FSU warned WMR that punishing Toomer "unjustifiably restricts his freedom of expression, and that it is contrary to WMR's stated values of diversity, equality and inclusion".
Rebekah Brown, a case officer at the FSU, called on the train company to "apologise for this vindictive decision and reinstate him".
Brown said: "WMR should focus on delivering a working service for their passengers, not compelling every volunteer to be a fellow traveller for corporate wokery.
"I expect the vast majority of West Midland's Railway's customers will agree with Mr Toomer, not with WMR's enforced ideological orthodoxy."
The WMR spokesman said: "Our company has a proud culture of inclusion and allyship.
WMR said: 'We believe the views Mr Toomer has expressed on social media on a range of subjects are at odds with these values and could be harmful or offensive to our colleagues'
"We believe the views Mr Toomer has expressed on social media on a range of subjects are at odds with these values and could be harmful or offensive to our colleagues, customers or other volunteers.
"We have therefore asked that Mr Toomer no longer volunteers on behalf of West Midlands Railway."
Unlike the traditional rainbow Gay Pride flag, the Progress Pride flag is associated with the pro-transgender political movement.
Credit: Lewis Henderson, GB News
Archive: https://archive.ph/kFDvJ
Matthew Toomer, a gay man, was removed for expressing gender-critical views
A gay volunteer has been banned from West Midlands Railway's (WMR) "Adopt a Station" scheme after expressing gender-critical views about the company's "Progress Pride" train.
Matthew Toomer, 48, was removed from the volunteer programme after privately contacting company bosses to express concern about the train's rainbow branding.
He also commented on social media, questioning if the train would "return to its natural state once the event is over".
Following these actions, Toomer was summoned to a meeting where he was told his views "do not align with [WMR's] values and mission".
He was subsequently banned from the Redditch station volunteer group.
WMR had rebranded one of its trains last summer with a "rainbow diamond motif" similar to the Progress Pride flag.
The Free Speech Union (FSU), representing Toomer, has written to the rail operator about the incident.
The FSU warned WMR that punishing Toomer "unjustifiably restricts his freedom of expression, and that it is contrary to WMR's stated values of diversity, equality and inclusion".
Rebekah Brown, a case officer at the FSU, called on the train company to "apologise for this vindictive decision and reinstate him".
Brown said: "WMR should focus on delivering a working service for their passengers, not compelling every volunteer to be a fellow traveller for corporate wokery.
"I expect the vast majority of West Midland's Railway's customers will agree with Mr Toomer, not with WMR's enforced ideological orthodoxy."
The WMR spokesman said: "Our company has a proud culture of inclusion and allyship.
WMR said: 'We believe the views Mr Toomer has expressed on social media on a range of subjects are at odds with these values and could be harmful or offensive to our colleagues'
"We believe the views Mr Toomer has expressed on social media on a range of subjects are at odds with these values and could be harmful or offensive to our colleagues, customers or other volunteers.
"We have therefore asked that Mr Toomer no longer volunteers on behalf of West Midlands Railway."
Unlike the traditional rainbow Gay Pride flag, the Progress Pride flag is associated with the pro-transgender political movement.
