Chicago, IL
The streets of Chicago's Edgewater community could soon get a splash of color.
A new online Care2 petition is urging the city government to add rainbow crosswalks to honor the LGBT community.
The petition, which also asked for trans pride-themed crosswalks, has surpassed its goal of 8,000 signatures.
ChicagoPride.com had previously reported that the Edgewater neighborhood was ranked as the "gayest" neighborhoods in Chicago, according to a study conducted by Trulia and dating website OKCupid.
The same study ranked Edgewater as the 6th "gayest" in the country, with 34.0% of its households occupied by single people looking for same-sex partners and 18.6% by same-sex couples. In total, 53% of its households are occupied by LGBT people.
The petition's creator, Kelsey B., believed that this petition will send a positive message to the community.
"I would love to see this happen here in Chicago," she wrote. "This is one small thing that could be done to signal to one of the most marginalized communities in the country that we are here for them, we see them, and we support them."
San Francisco, Philadelphia, and Atlanta have already added the multicolor crosswalks in the LGBT centers of their cities.
Though the petition is likely just the first step.
Robert Sepúlveda Jr, who initiated the push for rainbow crosswalks in Atlanta, said that it took him 3 years to bring his idea to fruition.
"I couldn't be prouder," he told ChicagoPride.com. "It really solidifies the fact that all that work wasn't in vain. It was worth ever minute of work."
To sign the petition, go to http://gopride.com/Zdd3/
Related: Andersonville, Edgewater top nationwide 'Neighborhood Pride' score
A new online Care2 petition is urging the city government to add rainbow crosswalks to honor the LGBT community.
The petition, which also asked for trans pride-themed crosswalks, has surpassed its goal of 8,000 signatures.
ChicagoPride.com had previously reported that the Edgewater neighborhood was ranked as the "gayest" neighborhoods in Chicago, according to a study conducted by Trulia and dating website OKCupid.
The same study ranked Edgewater as the 6th "gayest" in the country, with 34.0% of its households occupied by single people looking for same-sex partners and 18.6% by same-sex couples. In total, 53% of its households are occupied by LGBT people.
The petition's creator, Kelsey B., believed that this petition will send a positive message to the community.
"I would love to see this happen here in Chicago," she wrote. "This is one small thing that could be done to signal to one of the most marginalized communities in the country that we are here for them, we see them, and we support them."
San Francisco, Philadelphia, and Atlanta have already added the multicolor crosswalks in the LGBT centers of their cities.
Though the petition is likely just the first step.
Robert Sepúlveda Jr, who initiated the push for rainbow crosswalks in Atlanta, said that it took him 3 years to bring his idea to fruition.
"I couldn't be prouder," he told ChicagoPride.com. "It really solidifies the fact that all that work wasn't in vain. It was worth ever minute of work."
To sign the petition, go to http://gopride.com/Zdd3/
Related: Andersonville, Edgewater top nationwide 'Neighborhood Pride' score
