Item 28 - Rainbow Crosswalks in Downtown Santa Ana

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Rainbow Crosswalks in Downtown Santa Ana July 20, 2021 Page 2 1 9 0 7 restore them based on availability of fabrics. Baker's first rainbow flag had eight colors, though the most common variant consists of six: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet. LGBTQ individuals and allies use rainbow flags and many rainbow-themed items and color palettes as an outward symbol of their identity or support. As is described in the sections below, entities such as governments use these colors to show support for or commemoration of the Pride Month and the LGBTQ community. The City of Santa Ana displays the rainbow flag at City Hall each year, from May 22 through June 30, in commemoration of Harvey Milk Day and Pride Month. Rainbow Crosswalks In June 2021, a constituent contacted the City regarding a request to install rainbow crosswalks in Downtown Santa Ana to commemorate Santa Ana’s LGBTQ community. The constituent noted how efforts are made by cities and organizations to celebrate the LGBTQ community during Pride month, but stated that not much is done to continue this celebration of a historically oppressed group beyond the month of June. While the City does not paint or otherwise design crosswalks in response to a request from a member of the public, the City may choose to, on its own, paint or design a crosswalk as an expression of the City’s own sentiments. As such, staff presents to the City Council an opportunity to consider painting one or more crosswalks in rainbow colors for the City to commemorate the LGBTQ community. Rainbow crosswalks have been implemented in cities nationwide, including Atlanta, GA, Long Beach, CA, San Francisco, CA and West Hollywood, CA. More Information on each of these cities’ installation is provided below. Atlanta, Georgia Figure 1: Intersection of 10th Street and Piedmont Avenue in Atlanta, GA