Rainbow crosswalk request to go before Falls council
A request to install a rainbow crosswalk on Queen Street will go before Niagara Falls city council today.
Niagara Falls resident Falynn Shaw made the official request in an email addressed to council July 31. Staff is recommending politicians approve the request during this evening’s meeting.
“Rainbows are a symbol of the LGBTQ community and rainbow crosswalks have become a way for towns and cities to show support and acceptance for the queer people living in them,” reads the letter.
“It’s also a great chance to show support and inclusivity to our tourists who visit the falls.”
The city also received a letter of support from Ron Charbonneau, chairman of the Downtown Board of Management.
“We look forward to working with city hall to make this a reality in our downtown Queen Street BIA district, pending approval by city council.”
Although neither letter specified an exact area of Queen Street for the crosswalk, the council agenda suggests Queen Street and Erie Avenue.
In July, St. Catharines city council unanimously approved a call to install a rainbow crosswalk in that municipality, an initiative that was inspired by recent violence at Hamilton Pride celebrations.
Council has not identified where in St. Catharines the rainbow crosswalk will be located.
In an interview with The Niagara Falls Review Monday, Shaw said she is an activist for many social causes. She has written several opinion articles about exploring the LGBTQ+ community in Niagara for The Sound, a free monthly arts and culture newspaper.
Shaw said when a friend in Cobourg told her that her town had recently installed a rainbow crosswalk, it got her thinking about calling for one in Niagara Falls, “one of the most recognizable names in the world.”
“I really felt that the millions of people that come here, there’s going to be a percentage of them that are of that (LGBTQ+) community. I think it just shows solidarity, it shows acceptable. I also believe that there’s a lot of youth that need to see, from their leaders, acceptance and a crosswalk is a great way to show that.”
Shaw said she had a “wonderful” meeting with Mayor Jim Diodati and some staff members and was impressed by their “level of preparation.”
“The mayor was wearing rainbow socks. He says he didn’t do it on purpose, which, to me, is a really good sign.”
She said she also has letters of support from residents and establishments supporting her request.
Shaw said downtown Niagara Falls is already “welcoming” and a crosswalk would add to that vibe.
She said she started running free LGBTQ+ events at the Third Space Café on Queen Street, which received positive feedback.
“They were LGBTQ+ safespace events and .… we’re getting a lot of people coming that aren’t from the community but want to be an ally and have never had, maybe, a bridge to get there.”