Rainbow crossings explained: What are they and are they important?
Thursday, 28 March 2024
A rainbow crossing on Auckland’s iconic Karangahape Rd has been painted white.
The white paint was smeared across the road outside St Kevin’s Arcade and is the second rainbow crossing in a week to be vandalised.
But what is the purpose of rainbow crossings and who are they important to?
What are rainbow crossings?
A rainbow crossing is a pedestrian crossing with the art of the rainbow flag installed to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community.
The brightly coloured crossings are a show of support and solidarity, and mirror the colours of the rainbow flag.
The design of the crossings vary across cities, with some like Auckland’s Karangahape Rd incorporating the colours of the Progress Pride Flag, a more recent design created by international artist Daniel Quasar.
John Nottage, co-chair of Auckland Transport’s Rainbow Network, said this version of the flag adds a five-coloured chevron to the original Rainbow Flag, “to place greater emphasis on inclusion and progression”.
“The black and brown stripes represent our often-marginalised LGBTQIA+ communities of colour, along with the colours pink, light blue and white, which are used to acknowledge our transgender community.”
The crossing also acknowledges takatāpui.
Elizabeth Kerekere, former Green MP and rainbow activist and scholar, described takatāpui as an umbrella term that embraces all Māori with diverse gender identities.
This includes various sexualities and sex characteristics including whakawāhine, tangata ira tāne, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex and queer.
But the term is not new, with written records dating back to the 1830s telling the story of Hinemoa, Tutānekai and his less known lover Tiki.
The term was rediscovered in the 1970s by academics Ngahuia Te Awekotuku and Lee Smith, and reclaimed over time.
What do the crossings represent?
For many, the iconography of a rainbow represents inclusivity, diversity and aroha.
When the original rainbow flag with eight colours was designed by American artist and gay rights activist Gilbert Baker, Baker said he wanted to make a proud statement through a symbol showing diversity.
He later said in an interview, “Our job as gay people was to come out, to be visible, to live in the truth, as I say, to get out of the lie. A flag really fit that mission, because that’s a way of proclaiming your visibility or saying, ‘This is who I am!’”
The crossings pay homage to this history and serve as public art pieces which express acceptance and support for the LGBTQIA+ community.
Who are the crossings important to?
The rainbow crossings are significant because they make a public statement about society giving room to rainbow communities, Michael Stevens, rainbow community social commentator, said.
“It's a sign from people in authority, from city councils and those sorts of organisations that, ‘Yes, we know the rainbow community is out there, and they are welcome to be part of our communities.’
“They don't need to be afraid to be themselves.”
Stevens said it’s a well-known fact that rainbow communities are much more inclined to hide their true identities.
“This has very negative impacts on people's mental health and wellbeing,” he said.
“We know for a fact, people in rainbow communities have higher suicide rates than the general community, and any kind of public support or sign that shows we are welcome helps to mitigate the general negativity that often society shows to us.”
Ahi Wi-Hongi (they/them), Gender Minorities Aotearoa executive director, said the rainbow crossings are a way for councils of various cities to show support.
“It’s a way of showing rainbow people that they are a valued part of the community. For some people within rainbow communities, there's not a lot of obvious public support for their existence.
“The rainbow crossings are one of the ways councils are trying to signal that actually everybody belongs in the community.”
Where are they around Aotearoa?
Queenstown was the first place in Aotearoa to launch a rainbow crossing. The crossing officially opened in June 2018.
Since then, rainbow crossings can be found around Aotearoa, including Auckland, Gisborne, Wellington and New Plymouth.
… And what about the rest of the world?
Rainbow crossings can be found across the globe, including Sydney, Tel Aviv, Vancouver, San Francisco, Toronto, Seattle, Philaldelphia, Atlanta, Paris, Canberra, London, Vienna, Chicago and Dublin.