FACT CHECK: Twitter Post Falsely Claims Subway Sign Highlighting Bigotry Was Created By The New York MTA
A post shared on Twitter purports to show a subway poster created by the New York City Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) highlighting bigotry against transgender people.
Guys – the MTA is threatening to Murder us in cold blood if we don’t respect pronouns 🥺🥺😂😂😂 https://t.co/goa1irO4jH
— Legs (@nice_gams) June 26, 2023
Verdict: False
The poster was created by Pride Train in 2021 and can be viewed via a highlight saved to their Instagram account. A spokesperson for the New York City MTA denied the transportation system had authorized the poster in a statement to Reuters.
Fact Check:
The New York MTA released renderings of its plans to overhaul the subway system from East Harlem through the 2nd Avenue extension Wednesday, according to The Gothamist. Although the MTA scaled back plans for its overhaul, the project is expected to cost $6.3 billion, the New York Post reported.
“Guys – the MTA is threatening to Murder us in cold blood if we don’t respect pronouns,” the Twitter post, published on Jun. 26, purports. The post features a poster highlighting bigotry against transgender people, which reads, “Respect trans people, or your pronouns will be was/were” in part.
The claim is false. The hashtag #PrideTrain is visible in the bottom right corner of the poster, and a keyword search generates the pro-LGBTQ+ community’s Twitter and Instagram accounts. The same poster published via the Twitter post can be viewed via a highlight saved to Pride Train’s Instagram account. The poster is also included in a carousel post shared on their Instagram feed.
Screenshot captured via Instagram Stories
Likewise, Check Your Fact found no credible news reports suggesting the posters were created or authorized by the New York City MTA. The poster is neither referenced on the transportation authority’s website nor on verified social media accounts in relation to their LGBTQ+ pride month content. (RELATED: Has An Infinity Symbol Been Added To The Pride Flag To Represent Autism?)
A spokesperson for the New York City MTA denied the transportation system had authorized the poster in a statement to Reuters.
“This is not New York City Transit signage, nor is it authorized to be displayed anywhere in the MTA transportation system,” MTA spokesperson Meghan Keegan told the outlet.
Check Your Fact has also contacted the New York City MTA for comment and will update this piece accordingly if one is received.
