SAN ANTONIO — To kick off Pride Bigger Than Texas Parade on July 1, local LGBT activists plan will paint rainbow crosswalks at the intersection of North Main and East Evergreen.
Pride 2017 Chalk It Up, is being organized by local attorney Rosie Gonzalez who is calling on volunteers to “go buy all the rainbow chalk in town” and travel down between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. the morning of July 1 to get the intersection painted in time for the parade, which begins at 9 p.m.
On June 23, District 1 City Councilman Roberto Treviño proposed having permanent rainbow crosswalks painted at Main and Evergreen. The proposal has received support from Council members Manny Pelaez, William Cruz Shaw, Rey Saldaña and Alicia Sandoval.
Treviño in his request writes, “The Main Avenue Strip has been the center of the LGBT community in San Antonio for decades. It is the home to many LGBT owned businesses and the site of the annual Pride Parade. The addition of this crosswalk will affirm San Antonio is a place of acceptance and equality.”
His request must first get the approval of a council committee before it can be voted on by the entire City Council.
For more information on Pride Chalk It Up, visit the Facebook event page.
Philadelphia and San Francisco already have permanent rainbow crosswalks, and petitions are also circulating in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Milwaukee and New York City, and Austin, to install similar crosswalks, all of which would presumably be paid for by taxpayers.
Pride San Antonio Festival and Parade is from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Crockett Park 1300 N. Main. The parade begins at 9 p.m. at 1812 N Main Ave and continues south to Lexington Avenue where it ends. For more information, check out Pride SA’s website.