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Phoenix Rainbow Crosswalk

Introduction

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Rainbow crosswalk - one of two in Phoenix, unveiled the summer of 2018, the effort was organized by Phoenix Pride and other LGBTQ+ non-profits. It highlights the history of Roosevelt as the first Phoenix Gayborhood, and to this day, the neighborhood is home to the Parsons Center for Health and Wellness, Southwest Center for HIV/ AIDS, to One-N-Ten, Aunt Rita’s Foundation and several LGBTQ+ Friendly organizations.

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Downtown Phoenix, Rainbow Crosswalk

Downtown Phoenix, Rainbow Crosswalk

Backstory and Context

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LGBTQ+ Pride is held in June each year to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall Uprising. Although the Stonewall Riots are not the first, it is recognized as the start of the LGBTQ+ Civil Rights Movement. The LGBTQ+ community held demonstrations, protests and riots in direct response to police raids and harassment. Arizona is not exempt from these activities.

LGBTQ+ history in Arizona is under-documented in archives and libraries. We are actively tackling that issue by encouraging the documentation and the preservation of personal narratives, documents and other items that tell Arizona's LGBTQ+ history.

Portland Street was the northern boundary of the area affectionately called, the Fruit Loop. The surrounding blocks were a well-known gay hangout for men to find men. The route was Roosevelt Street to the alley West of First Street, Portland Street and 3rd Street.

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