News (USA)

Philadelphia rainbow crosswalks mark 50th anniversary of LGBT rights demonstrations

Philadelphia rainbow crosswalks mark 50th anniversary of LGBT rights demonstrations
A woman walks past a rainbow crosswalk in support of the LGBT community at the intersection of 13th and Locust streets, Thursday, June 25, 2015, in Philadelphia.
A woman walks past a rainbow crosswalk in support of the LGBT community at the intersection of 13th and Locust streets, Thursday, June 25, 2015, in Philadelphia. Matt Slocum, AP
A man walks a dog across a rainbow crosswalk in support of the LGBT community at the intersection of 13th and Locust streets, Thursday, June 25, 2015, in Philadelphia.
A man walks a dog across a rainbow crosswalk in support of the LGBT community at the intersection of 13th and Locust streets, Thursday, June 25, 2015, in Philadelphia. Matt Slocum, AP

PHILADELPHIA — Rainbow-colored crosswalks have been painted in a gay neighborhood of Philadelphia known as the Gayborhood.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports the walkways made up of six red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet stripes are in support of the city’s LGBT community.

The crosswalks appeared Thursday morning. Backers say they were planned for some time.

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Philly Pride Presents senior adviser Chuck Volz says the crosswalks were completed at a cost far less than the initial $26,000 estimate.

Independence Visitor Center employee Albert Lee says the crosswalks show tourists that Philadelphia is an LGBT-friendly city.

The rainbow crosswalks will be dedicated at the Annual Reminders Block Party on July 5 honoring the 50th anniversary of the first wave of U.S. LGBT rights group demonstrations.

Earlier this week, Seattle installed 11 rainbow crosswalks in its gay-friendly Capitol Hill neighborhood, joining San Francisco, West Hollywood and Key West with similar crosswalks.

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