Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, City of Atlanta Director of LGBTQ Affairs Malik Brown, Atlanta Police Chief Darin Darin Schierbaum, members of the Atlanta City Council, and current and former members of the City’s LGBTQ Advisory Board took part in a ribbon-cutting to celebrate the new look of the crosswalk. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta VoiceOn a sunny Sunday morning at the intersection of Piedmont Avenue and 10th Street in Midtown, people laid on the ground for selfies and danced to music being played from speakers on the corner. Normally that wouldn’t be any different from any other weekend near Piedmont Park, but this celebration was about Atlanta’s inclusivity. The intersection known across the world for its rainbow design was the sight of a new addition to its already colorful seven-year life. Black and brown lines were recently added to better represent the city’s LGBTQIA+ community. The colors of the LGBTQ flag were also added. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, City of Atlanta Director of LGBTQ Affairs Malik Brown, Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum, members of the Atlanta City Council, and current and former members of the City’s LGBTQ Advisory Board took part in a ribbon-cutting to celebrate the new look of the crosswalk. Atlanta Pride kicks off on October 12 and the newly painted and more inclusive crosswalk couldn’t have come at a better time, said Dickens.“This is meaningful, impactful, and necessary to have us here today,” Dickens said.The City’s 61st mayor said the crosswalk is “a powerful symbol of love, unity, and acceptance” and “Today we proudly celebrate the new design.” A man gets some rest on the Rainbow Crosswalk at the intersection of Piedmont Avenue and 10th Street in Midtown Atlanta. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta VoiceThe Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus kicked things off with a rendition of “Seasons of Love” from the Broadway hit “Rent.” Out Front Theater performer Anna Dvovak sang “Over the Rainbow” for the dozens of men, women, children, and dogs that gathered in the intersection for the ceremony. She was widely applauded for her performance. A temporary version of the crosswalk was installed in 2016 before a more permanent version was installed in 2017. Brown shared a story of seeing what looked like teenagers recording TikToks in the intersection. Brown says he remembered the City having to clean up skid marks from street racing and vandalism from people who didn’t believe in the purpose of the Rainbow Crosswalk. “To so many people it is a symbol of hope and inclusion,” said Brown of the Rainbow Crosswalk, which now includes Black and brown. The post One Atlanta. One Pride: Rainbow Crosswalks gets major inclusive upgrades appeared first on The Atlanta Voice.