By John Schwing

WESTPORT — A step that advocates say is a public sign of support for Westport’s LGBTQ community — a rainbow-hued crosswalk at Jesup Road and Taylor Place — should be permanent, according to a new online petition.

The multi-colored downtown crosswalk was installed at the start of June in advance of the local Pride Celebration on Jesup Green. Permission was granted in “recognition of Westport Pride” by the Board of Selectwomen on May 24, but on condition that the “temporary” crosswalk be made of “removable material,” according to wording of the board’s agenda item.

Although a date to remove the crosswalk is not specified in the selectwomen’s resolution, discussion at the meeting indicated the crosswalk could remain in place through the end of June — Pride Month — as long the materials withstand the wear-and-tear.

Among the officials who turned out early June 1 to help install the crosswalk were First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker and Selectwoman Andrea Moore.

But a petition posted June 18 on change.org — “Stop them from removing the rainbow crosswalk!” — asks people to rally in support of keeping the crosswalk permanently in place.

The petition was posted by Nikki Gorman, a Westport pediatrician who donated the crosswalk materials. 

It reads, in part: “If we leave [the crosswalk] and just let circumstances weather in the way it should last up to a year maybe more. Let’s block the town government from trying to remove it at the end of the month. Keep Westport inclusive!”

By midday Monday, more than 220 people had signed the petition.

During the selectwomen’s May discussion, First Selectwomen Jennifer Tooker said she fully supports the proposal for the temporary rainbow crosswalk, and added that a permanent installation might be considered in the context of broader plans for downtown improvements.

John Schwing, the Westport Journal consulting editor, has held senior editorial and writing posts at southwestern Connecticut media outlets for four decades. Learn more about us here.