Madeira Drive in Brighton was given a bold makeover this morning as street artwork representing Europe’s first official ‘rainbow crossing’ was unveiled to celebrate the release of We Can Change, a new song celebrating LGBT Pride month and championing equal rights by actress, musician and local resident, Heather Peace.
Created by local artists overnight, the rainbow stretches across the road at the artists’ quarter of Madeira Drive and is expected to attract hundreds of people keen to follow the rainbow brick road for the first time in Europe.*
Over the last few years, rainbow crossings have become synonymous around the world as a celebration of diversity. The first crossing was launched in West Hollywood in 2012 by artist Martin Duvander, who said that they were a milestone for the LGBT movement: “The sheer impact and the enormous visibility of the global message they send are truly immeasurable.” Since then, official crossings have been unveiled in cities including Sydney, Melbourne and Tel Aviv, while unofficial DIY crossings have popped up in places like Moscow, Paris, Shanghai and Cambodia as marks of protest and solidarity for LGBT people.
 |
| Photographer: Michelle Robek |
Says Heather Peace: “I knew there could be no better place in Europe to create a Rainbow Crossing than in my home town of Brighton. We Can Change, is my big gay anthem. It’s an empowering tribute to equality and I wanted the crossing to be a beautiful symbol to represent that during LGBT Pride month. It’s a gift from me to anyone that embraces diversity.”
Julieanne Gilburt and street artist Cassette Lord led the creation of the crossing artwork alongside a team of artists from the JAG Gallery and the Modern Gallery on Madeira Street. She said: “We’ve loved creating the rainbow crossing. It’s a beautiful message and a perfect addition to the artists’ quarter on Madeira Street. We hope everyone will come down and enjoy it.”
Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion said: “This is a great tribute to that spirit of diversity and inclusiveness embraced by our city. Brighton is such a creative, colourful place and the new rainbow crossing wonderfully reflects that. It’s a lovely and fitting addition in the run up to Pride 2014.”
Brighton & Hove City Council’s LGBT champion, Councillor Phelim Mac Cafferty, said: “We love the idea of this artwork and fully support it as a celebration of our city’s lead on equalities issues. I’m proud that once again we are on the global stage for our continued stance against prejudice.”
 |
| Photographer: Michelle Robek |
Heather Peace is an actress, musician and gay icon who has appeared in the top ten of the Independent On Sunday’s Pink List twice, graced the cover of DIVA Magazine more times than any other artist and headlined Sydney Mardi Gras’ Fair Day. She’s also a patron for Diversity Role Models, Manchester Pride and a supporter of The Peter Tatchell Foundation, The Albert Kennedy Trust, Womankind and Stonewall. She will perform at various Pride events this summer, including Brighton Pride before embarking on her own UK tour in October.
* Please note: Government traffic regulations mean that the ‘rainbow crossing’ artwork cannot be considered as an official pedestrian crossing.
While residents and visitors are invited to come and admire this lovely artwork, for very obvious safety reasons people should not treat it as a crossing point where pedestrians have any form of priority over vehicles.
