Permanent Rainbow Crossing on Woodgrange Road - LGBT+ Visibility- £7250

Since we created London’s first rainbow crossing in 2017, fourteen London Boroughs have installed permanent rainbow crossings showing unity and support for the LGBT+ people living withing those community. However wonderful, Transport for London has recently issued a request to boroughs to halt the installations of “colourful ground markings” while they have a consultation to see if there is an impact on people in the community. They propose that this may take over a year to finalise. In saying this, the consultation is primarily looking at communities that have painted roadways in abstract, geometrical patterns to demarcate shopping zones, etc… that may cause people with neurodivergent challenges to have difficulty navigating the road. Rainbow crossings were not named directly, however they fall under “colourful road markings”. In saying this, our difficulty is putting a hold on the rainbow crossing until the consultation is finished. It will be detrimental to our LGBTQI+ community. We have consulted organisations that help people with neurodivergent issues and have come up with some alternatives that will lessen the effects of a rainbow crossing painted on a road. Furthermore, the Newham LGBTQI+ community that Forest Gayte Pride caters to has neurodivergent members that we are directly consulting with to make sure we are continuing to be inclusive. With all that said, Newham has one of the highest incidents of Homophobic and Transphobic incidents recorded in London (please see below). LGBT solidarity, allyship and visibility is important now more than ever. To show that Newham is supportive, and a safe place to "Live, Work and Stay”, the crossing shows a commitment to the LGBTQI+ community well beyond Forest Gayte Pride that this is a wonderful place to live. It also acts as a beacon to the community that homophobia will not be tolerated here. It is paramount that the rainbow crossing goes ahead as planned this year. As Forest Gayte Pride 2022 fast approaches this summer, I hope we will be able to see a rainbow flag on the pavement once more as it has been since 2017. After two years of navigating Covid, this symbol of hope, connectedness and strength is needed more than ever for our community. It is a fundamental part of what we do at Forest Gayte Pride.