Esteemed Members of the Oakland City Council,
On behalf of the Oakland Lakeshore LGBTQ+ Cultural District, we write to express our strong support
for
this
important
legislation,
which
will
allow
us
to
continue
expanding
the
vision
of
our
Cultural
District
at
a
time
when
LGBTQ+
visibility
is
increasingly
under
threat.
Established in November 2023 with the steadfast support of the City, the Oakland Lakeshore LGBTQ+
Cultural
District
is
proud
to
be
the
first
LGBTQ+
Cultural
District
in
the
East
Bay.
Our
goal
is
to
foster
a
welcoming,
inclusive,
and
family-friendly
environment.
The
district
is
anchored
by
vital
institutions
such
as
the
Oakland
LGBTQ
Community
Center,
The
Town
Youth
Club,
Glenn
Burke
Wellness
Clinic,
the
Queer
Arts
Center,
and
more
than
a
dozen
LGBTQ-owned
businesses.
Together,
we
celebrate
and
uplift
the
vibrancy,
resilience,
and
creativity
of
our
community.
As you may know, the District recently collaborated with the City and local businesses to install new
Pride
flags
throughout
the
corridor.
Late
last
year,
we
also
raised
a
new
Pride
Flag
that
now
serves
as
a
proud
symbol
of
the
district’s
presence
and
purpose.
We
are
now
excited
to
move
into
the
next
phase
of
our
branding
campaign:
installing
a
rainbow
crosswalk
at
the
intersection
of
Lakeshore
and
Lake
Park
Avenue.
Our committee met with Director Josh Rowan and the Mayor’s Office last year to discuss the necessary
steps
to
bring
this
project
to
life,
and
this
legislation
is
a
critical
part
of
that
process.
With
the
Council’s
support,
we
hope
to
pass
this
policy
and
begin
fundraising,
with
the
goal
of
unveiling
the
rainbow
crosswalk
in
time
for
Oakland
Pride.
We are deeply grateful to Councilmembers Rebecca Kaplan and Rowena Brown for writing and introducing
this
legislation
and
Director
Josh
Rowan
for
your
enthusiasm
for
the
project,
and
we
warmly
invite
every
member
of
the
Council
to
join
them
in
supporting
this
meaningful
and
celebratory
project.
In community and solidarity,
The Oakland Lakeshore LGBTQ+ Cultural District Committee
Mock-up of potential crosswalk. Colors would be on all present crosswalks on the intersection.