A new illustrated transport map celebrating Gloucestershire's LGBTQIA+ stories will be launched at Cheltenham Spa Station this Pride Month throughout June, alongside a temporary exhibition of people and places that have shaped the county's queer history.

Gloucestershire Community Rail Partnership (GCRP) is set to launch Exploring LGBTQIA+ Gloucestershire, an illustrated travel map designed to highlight local LGBTQIA+ stories, safe spaces and history.

Created to encourage inclusive travel and celebrate community heritage, the map is accompanied by a new station exhibition opening at Cheltenham Spa Station on Saturday, May 31.

Illustrated by Brockworth-based artist and University of Gloucestershire graduate Sherina Steele, the map features 13 original portraits that span local and historical LGBTQIA+ figures and landmarks, including Olly Alexander, King Edward II, and The Coach and Horses public house in Gloucester.

The initiative aims to promote a sense of visibility and belonging at railway stations across the county. Around 2,000 maps will be distributed throughout June, and the full collection of illustrations will be on public display in Cheltenham Spa's waiting room during Pride Month.

The project also forms part of the national Railway 200 celebrations, marking 200 years since the birth of the modern railway by spotlighting underrepresented histories and communities within the rail network.

Hannah McDonnell, GCRP executive director, said: "This project is part of our wider commitment to ensuring the railway is a welcoming, safe and inclusive space for everyone. By sharing the stories of LGBTQIA+ people and places across Gloucestershire, we hope to inspire connection, pride and belonging, both within the community and among those who travel through it.

"Rail travel should be for everyone. Through this map and exhibition, we're working to remove barriers, amplify underrepresented voices, and build a more inclusive transport network rooted in the communities it serves."

The map is the result of continued community engagement and research undertaken by GCRP into the lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ rail users. Insights continue to be gathered and shared with local authorities and transport providers to support improvements to accessibility, safety and representation in public transport.

This project has been made possible through funding from Great Western Railway.