Rainbow crossings have been sprouting up across Cronulla over the past week, sparked by the removal of the rainbow pedestrian crossing at Taylor Square on Oxford Street, Darlinghurst.
An online group called ‘DIY Rainbow Crossing’ was formed when the crossing, installed temporarily for Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, was covered over with asphalt on the orders of NSW Roads Minister Duncan Gay.
Since then thousands of people around the world have been picking up chalk, creating their own rainbow crossings and posting them on social media.
Spurred on by New Zealand passing marriage equality legislation, more than 20 local residents helped create a colourful crossing at South Cronulla on Thursday night.
Troy Murphy, who helped organise the event, said the rainbow crossing wasn’t a political protest or just about equality.
‘‘Something as simple as grabbing a few pieces of coloured chalk and sharing a hand drawn rainbow on a bit of concrete is brining the world together as a whole,’’ he said.
‘‘This has gone far beyond the removal of the rainbow crossing being removed from Oxford Street.
‘‘This has become a universal sign of sharing love in the form of street art with all of our brothers and sisters around the world.’’
Carla Grossetti, of Cronulla, spent Friday afternoon chalking a rainbow crossing with her sons at Oak Park.
‘‘What better way to spend the school holidays than teaching our children about tolerance,’’ she said.
What do you think about the rainbow crossings?
