CALL TO ACTION
Community Support for Rainbow Crosswalk Exceeds Expectations
Advocating for the Leesburg Town Council to Recognize Opportunity
LEESBURG, VA — Despite setbacks in 2024, in May 2025, Equality Loudoun and our partners requested permission from the Leesburg Town Council to become the pilot project for developing a new crosswalk painting program. It was a challenge to meet the requirements, raise the funding, and work through the process, and we were beyond honored to have our request approved. Equality Loudoun, Loudoun Pride, and PFLAG of Ashburn/Loudoun County came together in June, Pride Month, to paint this joyous symbol of equality for all people. The community overwhelmingly responded positively, with praise pouring in from thousands across the county who saw the beautification project as the symbol of unity it was intended to be.
We knew that the possibility existed that the installation would be temporary, and removal is now scheduled for some time in December. We want to thank the Town Staff that worked so hard to make this happen, from participating in the planning process to helping select supplies and manage traffic. It was truly a community effort.
While we understand the new Town policy, passed in September, for crosswalk paintings to last four months, this makes future projects cost-prohibitive to small groups and non-profit organizations. Equality Loudoun had already committed to ongoing maintenance costs, but absorbing the time and financial commitment of a full repainting effort every year is untenable. It also speaks to the impermanence of such efforts and may call into question the values of our local community.
Unfortunately, the Town Council was unable to pass a recent motion to make the Rainbow Crosswalk permanent. We call on our community members to contact their local Leesburg representatives about this important effort and what it means to your family and community. Further, we extend that invitation to the County. Our community needs more moments of light, beauty, and unity. We seek your support in this effort.
