Hay River mulls rainbow crosswalk ahead of annual Pride event

This year's Hay River Pride may leave behind one colourful new addition that, with luck, will soon have people walking all over it.

Storm Larocque, organizer of NWT Pride, appeared before town council on Monday evening to ask for permission to repaint one of the town's crosswalks in the emblematic Pride rainbow. Paint and time have been offered as donations; all Larocque needs is a canvas.

She told council visible symbols like this are vital to helping the next generation of LGBT-identifying people feel welcome in society.

"It's really important that the next generation not have to face the same harassment and homophobia we faced growing up," she said.

Larocque recognizes that, for their part, schools are doing what they can to make lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgenderstudents feel accepted, but says there's still work to be done.

Permanent rainbow crosswalks have been popping up across Canada since the first one appeared on Vancouver's Davie Street in 2013. Today, they can be found in Toronto, Halifax, and since mid May, even Fort Smith.

Temporary rainbow crosswalks have appeared in many other cities like Calgary and Edmonton for the duration of Pride festivals.

Hay River Pride will be held on August 13. Larocque says the event will be family-oriented, with activities for kids as well as adults. Last year's Pride featured cupcakes and face-painting for kids as well as music and burlesque for adults.

Town Council voted to raise the Pride flag for the month prior to Pride, and will vote next week on whether to paint the crosswalk.

The colours of the rainbow represent the diversity of LGBT people.