Sydney's Legendary Rainbow Crossing Has Been Joyously Reinstated
Five years after it was removed, the pride artwork has returned to Taylor Square just in time for Mardi Gras — permanently, we hope.
It's been five years since Taylor Square's rainbow crossing was removed in the middle of the night, without a word of warning. But now, just a week out from the 41st Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, it has been permanently reinstated — and it's as triumphant and vibrant as ever.
The colourful crossing popped up on the corner of Bourke and Campbell streets yesterday, and has been officially launched by Lord Mayor Clover Moore and MP Alex Greenwich and Mardi Gras CEO Terese Casu this morning, Friday, February 8. With the support of the City of Sydney, NSW Roads and the RMS, the crossing features the colours of the gay pride flag, and curves with the road — meaning it takes the shape of an actual rainbow. When it was first announced back in June last year, Lord Mayor Clover Moore has applauded the move, calling it "a powerful acknowledgement of the importance of our LGBTQI community and history".
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The original rainbow crossing was installed in February 2013, but was removed two months later by the NSW Roads Minister amidst safety concerns. Residents have since spent years petitioning for it to be reinstated — this Change.org petition got over 16,000 signatures — so this is undoubtedly welcome news to the LGBTIQ+ community and commuters that pass through Taylor Square each day. To celebrate, the City of Sydney will host a pop-up from 11am–1pm tomorrow, where you can get free rainbow icy poles, get a photo printed and even a free bike tune-up.
The new installation, which has also included a local street upgrade for pedestrians and improvements to the Bourke Street bike path, will be in place for six months, before a safety review is undertaken by the RMS. If it ticks all the boxes, this rainbow icon will be sticking around permanently. It will join Melbourne's rainbow road, which was installed in St Kilda last year.
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