Canada: Vancouver unveils permanent rainbow crossings to celebrate pride week
The city of Vancouver has unveiled rainbow street crossings amid this week’s Pride Week celebrations, and unlike similar crossings in Sydney earlier this year which were later removed, the local council says they are permanent.
The crossings around Vancouver are unique because they contain the colour pink, unlike the traditional rainbow flag.
Local council spokespeople have also said the installations are permanent, unlike a rainbow crossing in Sydney installed for Mardi Gras, which was removed after the celebration.
“Some skeptics have raised concern about traffic safety related to people not knowing what it is, what it means or stopping to take photos, however, so far this morning, all the rainbow crosswalk has done is get people to slow down and bring smiles to the faces of people in the West End neighbourhood,” a member of Vancouver Pride told SameSame.
The colour pink was originally included in the rainbow flag, however was removed for ease of production and distribution.
He said: “It is clear to me that the Russian parliament’s homophobic assault on the fundamental human rights of the LGBTQ community will prevent many of these individuals from safely and openly participating in Sochi.”
