27 Jun 05

Friday 19 March, 2004

Black cabs across London will no longer display adverts for Sandals holidays, after successful lobbying from lesbian and gay rights group Stonewall.

The travel firm, which openly organises holidays for heterosexual couples only in exotic locations, has previously seen its adverts dropped from London Underground and the city's bus networks because of its homophobic stance.

Sandals refuses to allow same-sex couples to attend its holidays, despite pressure from international gay rights groups, something London Mayor Ken Livingstone says resulted in the ban.

"It is not acceptable for a company with such an openly discriminatory policy to advertise on public transport in this city," Livingstone said last year when introducing the original ban on tubes and buses.

The new decision was made by the Public Carriage Office this week, after pressure from the Greater London Authority (GLA) and Stonewall.

Stonewall chief executive said the move is important and necessary to make sure that London sends out the correct message.

"We're delighted," Summerskill told Gay.com UK today.

"We're pleased the Mayor takes this issue so seriously. It would be unthinkable to see a cab with an advert stating "no black people" travelling across London daily".

He added that if Sandals had been allowed to advertise on the city's cabs, it would "have sent out a bad message about a fairly tolerant and forward thinking city".

The ban will stop any adverts for Sandals appearing either inside or outside the city's black cabs, and will block any future advertising.