A rainbow zebra crossing is brightening up the street outside Wimbledon’s first LGBTQ bar as Merton council shows its support for pride month.
The multi-coloured crossing emulates the design of the rainbow flag which has been adopted across the globe, as a symbol to celebrate the LGBT+ community and its diversity.
It coincides with this month’s Pride in London event.
Cabinet member for women and equalities, Councillor Laxmi Attawar, said: “We are really proud to have created a rainbow crossing in our borough to show a blaze of colourful support for members of the LGBT+ community.
“We want to extend a warm welcome to the CMYK bar which is a wonderful addition to the diverse cultural offer we have in Merton.
“The development is part of our ongoing commitment to celebrate the huge contribution the LGBT+ community brings to Merton and help raise awareness of the challenges LGBT+ people continue to face.
“Merton is one of the most welcoming and safest boroughs in London and this high-profile colourful artwork is a great reminder to us all, that as a community we value diversity.”
Merton council said on its Twitter that it believes this to be the first crossing of its kind and said that due to its popularity it is considering making it a permanent feature when the crossing is moved in 2020.
CMYK bar is Merton’s first LGBT+ bar and supported the unveiling on its Twitter, with pictures of their resident queens strutting their stuff on the rainbow.
Charlie Walker, general manager at the CMYK bar, said he and his staff are delighted with the welcome they have received in Wimbledon. He said: “There is only one happiness in this life, to love and be loved.”
Patrick Lyster-Todd, Secretary of Merton LGBT+ Forum, said, “This is an amazing and symbolic undertaking by the London Borough of Merton, not just to mark this year’s Pride in London but also the opening of Wimbledon’s first LGBT+ bar and club, right at its centre.
“I have been there several times already and it is the most welcoming, fun and safe place for all, with marvellous staff – but our local LGBT+ community must now rally around and support it wholeheartedly so that it becomes a vibrant new home for all of us.”
Helen Clark Bell, chief executive of the Love Wimbledon bid, said: “The bright, beaming rainbow that has landed on Wimbledon Broadway celebrates Wimbledon’s new LGBTQ bar which is a beacon of the town centre’s inclusive community.
“Building a sense of pride in Wimbledon has been a key objective for Love Wimbledon. What better way to celebrate this than to have a rainbow pedestrian crossing installed outside CMYK, the first LGBTQ Bar in Wimbledon.”
