Boystown Set to Get Rainbow Crosswalks

Chicago’s Boystown neighborhood is set to get a colorful surprise just in time for the city’s 50th annual Pride Parade.

The Northalsted Business Alliance is preparing to install 14 rainbow crosswalks in the North Side neighborhood in June, the group announced.

As first reported by GoPride.com, the colorful crosswalks will be installed on east-west streets parallel to Halsted from Melrose north to Bradley, excluding Addison. The same location, a nearly one-mile stretch on Halsted Street, is home to 20 golden rainbow pylons.

"These crosswalks will create an aerial rainbow when viewed from above that hugs both sides of Halsted Street," according to the alliance. "This will be a visually stunning symbol for those flying into O’Hare International Airport as they fly over Lake Michigan towards Chicago."

Thirteen of the crosswalks will feature the rainbow design that “has become an inclusive symbol of the worldwide LGBTQ+ pride movement,” while the 14th will be dedicated to the transgender community, organizers said.

Funds for the crosswalks come from donations made during the city’s Chicago Pride Fest and Northalsted Market Days.

“As an internationally recognized and historic landmark neighborhood, Boystown has been a place of acceptance and diversity for decades. These crosswalks show our commitment to maintaining a thriving LGBTQ+ community,” Northalsted President Ramesh Ariyanayakam said in a statement.