Pride Fest hoping for permanent rainbow, transgender crosswalk flags
The Lethbridge Pride Fest Society hopes to make a permanent rainbow mark on the streets of Lethbridge, but may have to wait until plans are decided for 3 Avenue South reconstruction.
At Monday’s city council meeting, members of the society proposed the installation of two permanent crosswalks — one LGBTQ+ rainbow pride flag and one pink, white and blue transgender flag — across 3 Avenue South at 6 Street. They also requested more vibrant colours consistent with the flags, without any black asphalt spaces in between.
Last year, council approved the painting of five temporary crosswalks, bordering the Southern Alberta Art Gallery. The cost was roughly $2,000 and was covered by the Lethbridge Pride Fest Society, after receiving a Heart of Our City grant.
“We were very happy last year to have five rainbow crosswalks, but we weren’t all that happy with the colours and the design. So this year we asked for more vibrant colours and a solid pride flag, as well as a transgender flag,” said Linda McFalls, sponsor chairperson of Lethbridge Pride Fest Society.
“It’s very sad to know that transgender people experience the most violence within the LGBTQ+ community,” she continued. “We want the city to acknowledge them, acknowledge the problem, and we want to have a specific crosswalk for transgender so that it shows that we are supportive.”
Two cost proposals for permanent crosswalks were presented. The first was for surface-applied paint at about $13,500. The second was for inlaid crosswalks at about $18,000. The cost was proposed to come from council contingencies.
During the meeting, the society was advised that one project proposed in the upcoming Capital Improvement Program is to redesign and redevelop 3 Avenue between 4 Street and 8 Street South.
Council will deliberate CIP projects to be funded in May, with final approval in June. If the $9.7million 3 Avenue South reconstruction is approved, it would mean the road would be ripped up, and installing permanent crosswalks wouldn’t be logical right now.
The proposal was postponed for two weeks, so city administration and Pride Fest could discuss plans to possibly add temporary crosswalks again this year.
“We wanted 3 Avenue and 6 Street, but they’re going to be doing some work there, so a permanent one is not going to be happening this year,” said McFalls. “But city council is agreeable, it sounds like, to do temporary ones — transgender flag and rainbow flag — so that’s super great.”
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