Pride zebra crossing to add some colour to St Helier

Local equality charity Liberate, who will borrow the rainbow crossing from Transport for London, plan to place it near the existing zebra crossing at the Weighbridge.

It will be in place during Jersey’s first Pride event on 12 September.

It has been organised by Liberate, which was founded last year to educate and inform Islanders about the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning community as well as to support people who identify as LGBTQ.

The special crossing has previously been used by The London transport authority at Pride events in the capital to celebrate diversity, as well as for the tenth anniversary of the authority’s LGBT+ staff network, OUTbound.

Christian May, the chairman of Liberate in Jersey, said: ‘We are grateful to TfL for sharing their crossing with us.

‘Rainbow zebra crossings have become a global symbol of support by communities for equality and diversity.

‘Sydney, Tel Aviv, Santiago, Key West, London and numerous other cities have all had one.

‘Now, it is Jersey’s turn to show the world it supports its LGBTQ residents.’

The crossing will be placed between the existing crossing on the corner by the Royal Yacht Hotel and the crossings and island leading from Liberation Square.

As the crossing will not be an official zebra crossing the charity says it will be manned to ensure the public’s safety.

Martyn Loukes BEM, chairman of OUTbound, said: ‘We are proud to be supporting the Channel Islands’ first Pride event in this way, as it is another fantastic opportunity to demonstrate our strong support for equality and diversity.

‘The rainbow crossing is part of a campaign that has also seen a rainbow-decorated bus, taxi and train on our network.’

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