Norwalk, Connecticut, has a new, rainbow crosswalk outside Norwalk’s Mathews Park, but unlike many other LGBTQ-affirming Pride-season installations, this one’s intended to be a permanent fixture on the city street.
“This is a year-long symbol, taking Pride from the month of June to 365 days a year,” State Rep. Lucy Dathan of Norwalk and New Canaan said at the rainbow crosswalk’s unveiling ceremony, according to a Patch Media report.
“It’s really important because it shows we are a unified community,” the city’s Mayor Harry Rilling said at the ceremony. “In the word ‘community,’ there’s the word ‘unity,’ and there is no community without unity, people working together and respecting each other.”
Said the state’s senate majority leader, Bob Duff, “We’re a place that values equity and equality, and [the crosswalk] will be a symbol not only during Pride Month, but it will be a symbol 12 months out of the year.”
“Connecticut’s always been a welcoming place, and this will be a constant reminder that as people come into Connecticut, they’ll know that Norwalk and the state is a place where they feel welcome, they feel warm and they feel loved,” Duff said.
Reports Patch:
The project was the result of a partnership between the city and the Triangle Community Center, the latter of which “empowers and advocates for LGBTQ people in Connecticut through programming focused on health, community and learning,” according to their website. …
Colin Hostin, president of the Triangle Community Center’s board of directors, said it was amazing to see the crosswalk finished and to share it with the large group of supporters present for the ribbon cutting ceremony.
“I feel it on a very personal level as a proud gay man,” Hostin said, “but I think I feel it way more for the kids: the 12 and 13-year-olds who are exploring their identity and thinking about how they can be accepted in this world, and seeing this very visible outward show of welcoming and diversity, I think I’m most excited for them.”
Hostin said the project took a little over two years to complete, steps for which included getting financial and Common Council approval and finding the right vendor to perform the work. He also noted the city was an “amazing partner” for this project.
“We are very lucky,” Hostin said. “We don’t take for granted we have a mayor [and] a council who are extremely supportive of LGBT equality.”
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