(Washington, DC) – Today, Mayor Bowser joined community members in painting a rainbow-colored crosswalk in Northwest DC, one day before the 2017 Capital Pride Parade. On Saturday, more than 100 volunteers will help paint an additional six crosswalks, one of which will feature a transgender pride flag, along the route of the Capital Pride Parade. The Mayor was joined at the event by the Director of the Mayor’s Office of LGBT Affairs Sheila Alexander-Reid, the Director of the Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) Tommy Wells, and members of the community.
“We are installing these temporary crosswalks as a symbol of Washington, DC’s inclusivity and LGBTQ pride,” said Mayor Bowser. “For many years, Washington, DC has been a leader on LGBTQ rights, and my Administration will continue pushing forward to protect and defend the rights of and expand opportunity for our LGBTQ residents. It is an honor to be part of this installation, and I look forward to joining residents from across DC at the Capital Pride Parade. ”
The LGBT pride-themed crosswalks will be installed along Frank Kameny Way, a section of 17th Street that was named in honor of the late DC gay rights pioneer, Frank Kameny. In order to comply with federal standards, the crosswalk installations are temporary.
In order to create a more permanent installation, community members are currently working with DOEE and the Anacostia Watershed Society (AWS) to commission artists to paint storm drains with murals that celebrate the neighborhood’s LGBTQ identity. DOEE and AWS put out a call for artists in May and design submissions are due by 5 pm on Friday, June 16. Interested participants can visit anacostiaws.org for more details. Selected artists will receive a commission of 775 dollars per storm drain mural. The storm drains along 17th Street are part of a larger project that DOEE and AWS are producing to raise awareness about the connection between DC’s streets and waterways.
Earlier this month, Mayor Bowser proclaimed June as Pride Month in Washington, DC. The Mayor’s proclamation can be found on lgbtq.dc.gov. As Co-Chair of the Mayors Against Discrimination, a bipartisan coalition of municipal leaders dedicated to securing inclusive nondiscrimination protections for all, Mayor Bowser will continue to ensure Washington, DC provides the highest level of civil rights protections for LGBTQ residents.