The proposal to install rainbow colored crosswalks on Bettie Naylor Street at the Lavaca and Colorado intersections entered one of its final stages – but not without some friction from local business owners.
Passed by City Council on Sept. 25, the plan would cement the area as a historic Austin “gayborhood” and showcase the city’s support for the LGBTQ community, mirroring rainbow crosswalks in San Francisco, Toronto, and Vancouver, among others. After Council’s approval, the idea moves to the Austin Arts Commission, which will review the artwork donation proposal, submitted through the Austin Gay and Lesbian Pride Foundation with private dollars.
While the gay-friendly plan initially received pushback from some businesses in the community, including Péché and Truluck’s, those owners have since dialed back their criticism. But during the Arts Commission’s Monday afternoon specially called meeting aimed at gathering public input before a final decision, it was clear heated opposition persists from bar owners.
Following a brief presentation on the timeline review process from city staff as well as a presentation by Austin Pride President Paul Huddleston, the commission opened the floor for a (surprisingly short) citizen comment period. John Korioth and Chris Ruhling, owners of Hangar Lounge, both shared their discomfort with the plan – the men contend they are fully supportive of LGBTQ rights but are concerned that the colorful addition to their area would hamper business. The Pride Foundation does not have a “vested interest” in the leased-out spaces, they said. Putting his money where his mouth is, Korioth even wagered somewhat of a bet, offering up a $10,000 check to any organization the LGBTQ-right group chooses if his business sales increase after the implementation of the rainbow crosswalks – yet if the sales drop, he challenged the gay rights group to answer to the bar’s investors and employees.
Angie Hanna, a patron of the area bars for two decades, argued the crosswalks were “problematic and divisive.” Austin is the “last place” that needs to declare a gay district, said Hanna. “Please don’t segregate the warehouse district into ‘gay’ and ‘straight’ just so we can copy what other cities did – they did it because they couldn’t accomplish what we already have in Austin.”
In response to the backlash vocalized at the meeting, Huddleston countered the anti-inclusion arguments: “I think the people who frequent the warehouse district and attend those businesses are quite aware that they are entering a very gay-friendly neighborhood and wouldn’t stop doing so because there’s paint on the street,” he told Newsdesk following the hearing, adding that not all businesses are hostile toward the idea – Fadó Irish Pub, Halcyon, Rain, Oilcan Harry’s, and Dick Clark Architects welcome the plan.
As for Korioth’s $10K wager, Huddleston said wryly: “I’m happy to take him up on it.”
The Arts Commission will factor in the stakeholder input and comments posted on SpeakupAustin! and take a vote on Nov. 17. The commission is expected to submit recommendations to Council for their action on the crosswalks on Nov. 20, and on the donation policy at their final meeting of the year, Dec. 11.
This article appears in November 14 • 2014.