What's this Rainbow Crossing business all about then?
The
History
Rainbow
pedestrian crossings first appeared in Taiwan in 2008 and have fast become a
symbol recognising diversity across the world.
Today,
Rainbow street art brightens streetscapes in 100’s of cities worldwide including
in Aotearoa New Zealand with Auckland, Hamilton, New Plymouth, Gisborne and
Wellington all embracing the Rainbow.
Of Aotearoa
New Zealand’s five largest cities, Christchurch and Tauranga Moana remain the only
two not to have adopted Rainbow street art.
And, with plans to add a
Rainbow Crossing underway in Christchurch, Tauranga Moana might soon be the only
city in our nation’s top five not to embrace this colourful celebration of
diversity.
Where
did the Rainbow Flag come from?
Designed at
the request of Harvey Milk, San Fransisco’s first openly gay Mayor in 1978, the
colors of The Rainbow Flag were intended to reflect the diversity of the LGBTQIA
community along with the spectrum of human sexuality and gender.
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Why is
it important to celebrate and honour The Rainbow Flag?
10’s of
thousands of LGBTQIA people from all corners of the globe have fought and died
in the quest for human rights over the years. In 2023 alone and in the United
States, 320 Trans people were murdered just for being themselves.
Like any
bully, those who seek to vilify and hate will always pick on demographics they
view as easy targets. For many throughout history intent on division, the LGBTQIA community have
been that target.
Hitler murdered 10’s of thousands of gay men during The
Holocaust. Five thousand men have been hung in Iran since 1979, their only crime being who they loved.
Closer to
home, Aotearoa New Zealand has the highest youth suicide rate in the Western
World and LGBTQIA people have a far higher chance of dying by their own hand than
any other demographic.
News of just the last few years is filled with
horrifying scenes of violence, threats and intimidation directed toward LGBTQIA
communities. In 2022, Tauranga Moana's Rainbow Youth building was destroyed in an arson attack. When those convicted of the crime were interview by police, they annoucned their wish to"...burn the faggots to the ground."
Our new
generations can grow into our world understanding that we are better for
celebrating our differences as people. We are a more informed society, a better
educated, more cultured, innovative, creative, and loving world when we
appreciate each other for precisely who we are.
What do
Rainbow Crossings represent?
The meaning
of The Rainbow Flag and Rainbow Crossings can be subjective. Like all things,
progress and different understandings create discussion. And that’s a good
thing.
The Rainbow Flag and so The Rainbow Crossing was born in the
fight for LGBTQIA rights, however many would argue that today, it can represent all of us. In our minorities
are our majority and when we understand and celebrate all our cultures,
ethnicities, sexualities, gender identities and beliefs together, we’ll all be
better humans.
In 1925,
Gandi said “Our ability to reach unity in diversity will be the beauty
and the test of our civilization."
And with that…
Can we ask you to support the campaign for a Rainbow Crossing in
Tauranga Moana please?
Sign this petition and do more. Ask your friends to get on board, share it
on your social media, talk about it at work, at your sports club, choir or your
church.
Let’s show the world that Tauranga Moana is not going to be the only city in NZ’s top five that doesn’t celebrate all it’s peoples.
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