ABOVE: A mock-up of the forthcoming Pride mural in St. Petersburg. Photo via St Pete Pride’s Facebook page.
ST. PETERSBURG | St Pete Pride exceeded its $7,000 fundraising goal for the installation and maintenance of an inclusive Pride mural in the Grand Central District July 10, just two weeks after announcing the organization’s efforts.
The organization shared that city officials had approved the project June 26, which would have marked the 18th annual St Pete Pride weekend. Eleven stripes will be painted on the intersection of 25th St. and Central Ave. to honor the celebration’s birthplace and city’s inclusive nature.
“The striped rainbow mural will feature 11 colors to celebrate, uplift and unify the BIPOC and Transgender communities along with the traditional 6 striped rainbow flag,” St Pete Pride reiterated via social media July 9, sharing the design seen below. “There are many working parts to what we hope will be a permanent dedication to the Grand Central District as the birthplace of St Pete Pride and the LGBTQ+ community.
“There are many working parts to what we hope will be a permanent dedication to the Grand Central District as the birthplace of St Pete Pride and the LGBTQ+ community,” they added. “Our goal of $7,000 will cover the full cost of the installation and maintenance.”
“The city has taken a stance on limiting the liability to the city by not installing rainbow crosswalks,” St Pete Pride President Chrys Bundy shared with Watermark following the initial announcement. “St. Pete is known for our murals so a street mural was a natural choice.”
“The Grand Central District was the birthplace of St Pete Pride and the original ‘gayborhood,’” added St. Petersburg LGBTQ Liaison Jim Nixon, who approached the organization with an initial design. “Having an inclusive pride street mural to anchor its history and celebrate the vision that in St. Pete we recognize that our differences, what we look like, who we pray to, who we love … that’s what makes our country great. That’s what makes St. Pete shine.”
The installation will be overseen by artist Andrea Pawlisz this month while adhering to COVID-19 safety precautions. As of publication, $7,050 has been raised to cover installation, supplies, permits, the street’s closure, required maintenance and more. Donations of all sizes were received from individual supporters and organizations like Metro Inclusive Health and Come OUT St Pete.
Watermark has reached out to St Pete Pride and will update this story with additional details as they become available. For more information about the mural, click here. To learn more about St Pete Pride visit StPetePride.com.
