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Rainbow crossings in Seattle

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Rainbow crossings in Seattle
One of Seattle's rainbow crossings in 2015
One of Seattle's rainbow crossings in 2015
Completion2015
LocationSeattle, Washington, U.S.

A series of rainbow crossings have been painted in Seattle, in the U.S. state of Washington. According to The Seattle Times, the colorful pedestrian crossings "signal inclusiveness all year-round".[1] Since the rainbow crossings were installed in 2015, more artistic crossings have appeared throughout the city.

History

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One of the crossings in June 2015

In 2015, eleven rainbow crossings were painted at six intersections on Capitol Hill,[2] on Pike and Pine streets between 11th Avenue and Broadway. According to Out, the colorful pedestrian crossings were created "as a bold symbol of the city's LGBT community" and "will act as a reminder of the city's ongoing commitment to LGBT awareness and acceptance".[3] Costing approximately $6,000 each, the crosswalks were paid for by local developers.[4]

Mayor Ed Murray (left) and Seattle Department of Transportation director Scott Kubly (right) holding a rainbow-colored sign for Pike Street at the unveiling of the rainbow crossings in 2015

The crossings were part of Mayor Ed Murray's action plan to improve safety for the LGBT community.[5] The crosswalks had been discussed "for some time" but were delayed by funding and logistics issues.[6] At the unveiling ceremony, he said, "it says something about this neighborhood and it also says something about Seattle. This is a city of very diverse neighborhoods throughout with different character."[7] The crosswalks were expected to last from three to five years,[8] and inspired other colorful crossings throughout the city.[9]

While the crosswalks were privately funded, talk show host Dori Monson argued that if the city was able to find funding for rainbow crossings, then there should also be funding for police body cameras and a gunshot recognition system.[10]

The Federal Highway Administration and U.S. Department of Transportation said the crosswalks were potentially unsafe.[11][unreliable source?] Engineer Dongho Chang from the Seattle Department of Transportation said the crosswalks "are statistically far safer than the ones mandated by the federal government".[12]

In 2024, one of the rainbow crossings was vandalized and repainted.[13]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "It's Pride month, but Seattle's rainbow-flag crosswalks signal inclusiveness all year-round". The Seattle Times. 2019-06-21. Archived from the original on 2022-12-04. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
  2. ^ "Colorful crosswalks celebrate gay pride in Seattle". The Seattle Times. 2015-06-23. Archived from the original on 2023-05-15. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
  3. ^ "Seattle Mayor Unveils Rainbow Crosswalks in Capitol Hill Neighborhood". www.out.com. Archived from the original on 2023-03-26. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
  4. ^ "Rogue colorful crosswalks show up in Central District". king5.com. 5 August 2015. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
  5. ^ Jones, Liz (2018-10-24). "Violence Against Seattle's LGBTQ Community Prompts Safety Plan". www.kuow.org. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
  6. ^ "Seattle gets rainbow crosswalks for Pride Week". The Columbian. 2023-05-30. Archived from the original on 2016-12-15. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
  7. ^ Keeley, Sean (2015-06-23). "Check Out The New Rainbow Crosswalks in Capitol Hill". Curbed Seattle. Archived from the original on 2023-03-23. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
  8. ^ "Seattle unveils 11 rainbow crosswalks in gay‑friendly Capitol Hill neighborhood". LGBTQ Nation. 2015-06-23. Archived from the original on 2023-05-15. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
  9. ^ Browning, Paige (2018-10-24). "Colorful Crosswalks Are Coming To Seattle". www.kuow.org. Archived from the original on 2021-10-19. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
  10. ^ "Ed Murray continues his unnecessary expenditures with rainbow crosswalks". MyNorthwest.com. 2015-06-23. Archived from the original on 2021-05-06. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
  11. ^ "Government claims rainbow crosswalks a safety hazard; Seattle says: Not here". KOMO News. 2019-10-08. Archived from the original on 2022-10-14. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
  12. ^ "Government says rainbow crosswalks could be unsafe". KIRO 7 News Seattle. 2019-10-07. Archived from the original on 2022-08-14. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
  13. ^ "Vandalized Pride crosswalk in Capitol Hill gets fresh rainbow coat". The Seattle Times. 2024-10-07. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
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