Rainbow crosswalks returning to Davis
May 21, 2025
(From press release) To set the tone for Pride Month in June, volunteers will paint rainbow crosswalks around Davis’ Central Park between 6 and 9 a.m. on Sunday, May 25.
The nine crosswalks around Davis’ Central Park will be painted with a temporary spray chalk. Volunteers start at 6 a.m. at Fifth and C street and work counter-clockwise to the final crosswalk at Fourth and C streets.
The rainbow crosswalks are the first of many Davis Pride events, including:
May 25: Volunteers will paint rainbow crosswalks around Davis’ Central Park, from 6 to 9 a.m.
June 5: Sing with Pride at the UC Davis Mondavi Center, 7 p.m.
June 7: Pride is a Protest rally, Central Park, downtown Davis, 2 to 3 p.m.
June 7: The 11th annual Davis PrideFest, a community fair and music festival, from 3 to 8 p.m. in Civic Center Park, Sixth and B streets, with title sponsors Dignity Health and Woodland Clinic Medical Group
June 8: The 11th annual Run/Walk for Equality, 8 a.m. to noon from Central Park
June 14: Skate with Pride, 7 to 9 p.m. in Central Park
June 19: Drink with Pride trivia night 6 to 9 p.m. at Dunloe Brewing Co., 1606 Olive Drive
June 27: Davis Pride Comedy Night presented by Laughs on the Lake, 5:30 to 9 p.m. Stonegate Country Club, 919 Lake Blvd.
June is International LGBTQ+ Month. Davis Pride events are coordinated by an all-volunteer community formed by the Davis Phoenix Coalition, a nonprofit that works to foster diversity, eliminate intolerance, prevent hate-motivated violence, and support LGBTQ+ youths in Davis and surrounding communities. The coalition was founded in the aftermath of a 2013 anti-gay attack on Davis resident “Mikey” Partida. Proceeds from Davis Pride events fund the coalition’s anti-racism and anti-bullying campaigns, support to LGBTQ+ youths and their families, and outreach with area police departments, churches and schools. To donate, go to https://davisphoenixco.org/donate.
For more information about the event, or becoming a sponsor, exhibitor or volunteer, visit https://www.davispride.org/. To learn details as they unfold, follow Davis Pride on Facebook and Instagram.
The intention here is lovely and necessary. But crosswalks are a temporary ghetto.... streets in their entirety used to be public domain. Irony, given the subject matter?
I would support efforts City funding for more than chalk, like the huge flag at the entrance to the Castro... or what they've done in Utrecht: https://www.uu.nl/en/organisation/equality-diversity-inclusion/rainbow-bike-path
Posted by: Tuvia, etc. | May 21, 2025 at 09:55 AM
Could have sworn that last month was "pride month". Or maybe it was the month before that . . .
And don't get me started on what "month" this is (in addition to "pride month"), in regard to the (at least half-hour?) proclamation by the council at the last meeting. Does this actually accomplish anything of value at all?
I'm also not so sure that it's a good idea to alter traffic/pedestrian safety signage. Also, who is directing traffic when they're out in the middle of the street altering crosswalks? And why only for "pride" activities? Why not paint the crosswalks "black", for example, in regard to Black History month? (I already know the answer to that.)
Posted by: Ron O | May 21, 2025 at 10:37 AM
"Drink with Pride" ?
Posted by: Alan C. Miller | May 21, 2025 at 10:41 AM