Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore and the NSW Minister for Roads and Ports are leading a push to “keep Sydney fabulous” with a campaign to make a major inner-city zebra crossing a full-time symbol of gay pride.
The Oxford Street crossing in Taylor Square, Surry Hills, has had a fabulous rainbow stripe makeover as a symbol of inclusivity in honour of the Sydney Mardi Gras this coming weekend. These days Oxford Street is widely recognised as one of the most LGBT-friendly spots in all of Australia, however lesbians and gay men were beaten and bashed on Oxford Street in 1978, and homophobic violence was rife for years.
Online social activist organisation Change.org is championing a petition to keep the rainbow paint job in Taylor Square once Mardi Gras is done and dusted for another glitter-encrusted year. Change.org writes: to now have our flag on our street celebrates how far we have come and is a tribute to the battles we have won… We don’t see the crossing will cause safety risks, and many encourage road users to take more care. Please allow the rainbow crossing to remain a permanent reminder of our history.
You can join the petition here.
