The rainbow crossing in Bristol has been repainted ahead of the city's Pride festival next month. It is Bristol's first and only Pride crossing initially painted back in 2021 on Wine Street in the city centre to give visibility to the LGBTQ+ community through all of the colours of the Pride Progress Flag.
Contractor company Colas Ltd has provided the costs and the work of the repainting with support from the Bristol Pride organisation. Bristol Live has reached out to the organisation to ask how much it cost to repaint the rainbow crossing.
Bristol Pride has said the pelican crossing has been repainted with harder-wearing paint after the colours began to fade after the initial painting. Bristol City Council previously told Bristol Live earlier this year that "funding was allocated on the basis of a one-off installation" and the council did not have any budget to repaint it in March.
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Director of Bristol Pride, Daryn Carter MBE, said: "It’s great to have the crossing repainted in time for this year’s festival as a very visible reminder that Bristol welcomes everyone and the city’s commitment to equality and diversity. The pandemic robbed us all of the opportunities to come together and socialise and for some in the LGBT+ community that’s lead to increased isolation.
"The crossing is such a visible showcase for the city and has had such a positive impact since its unveiling last year, helping bring joy and start conversations. It’s going to be a very special moment to have the Parade back this year after two years apart and to have the crossing as part of the route is very exciting."
The Pride Progress Flag - which is also known as the inclusive flag - has additional colours from the six-stripe rainbow flag to represent the Trans community and People of Colour. “It was our pleasure to have supported the repainting of the crossing, and to support the Pride movement in Bristol," added Andrew Emmett, Framework Manager at Colas.
Bristol's Pride crossing was vandalised just days after its debut in June last year with black graffiti scrawled across it, seemingly saying "Jesus Loves Sinners". It was repaired 48 hours after the vandalism took place.
Pride Day is back this year for the first time since 2019 after the Covid-19 pandemic impacted large-scale events across the UK. There are more than 50 events as part of the festival this year including the festival on the Downs on Saturday, July 9, which sees popstar Carly Rae Jepson headlining.
Bristol Pride takes place from June 25 to July 11 with Pride Day falling on July 9, 2022.
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