The rainbow crossing will be located in Broadmead.
Bristol Pride announced back in April that a rainbow crossing will appear in the centre of Bristol to coincide with Pride Month and to celebrate the return of Bristol Pride this July. And now it’s here! The crossing is being painted on Wine Street in Broadmead, which leads to Castle Park, where the Bristol Pride Day event was expected to take place on July 10 this year, however will no longer be going ahead.
The Wine Street crossing will be marked with the Pride Progress flag, which is inclusive of the transgender community and LGBT+ people of colour. The chevron symbolises a forward movement and that progress still needs to be made.
Following in the footsteps of cities such as Paris and Sydney, the UK’s first permanent rainbow crossing was unveiled in London in 2019 and further pride crossings popped up in the capital last year. More than 500 people signed a petition in February this year to introduce a rainbow crossing in Portishead, however the rainbow crossing on Wine Street will be the first such crossing in Bristol.
Bristol Pride director, Daryn Carter, said: “We are so excited to be getting a rainbow crossing here in Bristol, it’s a great way to showcase the city’s commitment to equality. Visibility for the LGBT+ community is still an issue and after a year apart, where some people may have felt isolated and disconnected, this crossing will be a positive, unmissable beacon for Bristol as Pride returns to the city, and will be a visible reminder to celebrate diversity in all its forms.
“Not only will this resonate with the local community, but also send a positive message to visitors as we all keep striving towards creating a better society.”
The festival, which went virtual last year, will still feature a range of events between July 3 and 16 across the city. Previous years have seen performances from over 100 artists including Boney M, Ru Paul Drag Race Star Peppermint, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, and Spice Girl Mel C.
[Feature Image: Bristol Pride]