The Lakeshore LGBTQ Cultural District and the Oakland LGBTQ Center on November 13, 2025, unveiled an historic new rainbow crosswalk. The occasion was marked with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting ceremony and walk. The center’s Co-Founders Joe Hawkins and Jeff Myers, Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, iHeart Radio DJ Christie James, community leader Lisa Williams, and other local leaders and allies were present.
“Our rainbow crosswalk will not be the traditional paint job, it marks the first time that a thermoplastic permanent rainbow crosswalk has been installed in Oakland, which is a more durable/lower maintenance and longer lasting application that is able to handle heavy traffic on the street. It’s a declaration,” said Myers, who is also Chair of the Lakeshore LGBTQ Cultural District Committee. “It tells every trans, queer, and non-binary person who visits our LGBTQ district that they are welcome, seen, safe, and celebrated right here in Oakland.”
In Oakland, two non-permanent rainbow crosswalks were painted, one in front of the White Horse Inn, one of the oldest Queer Bars in the country and the other at the former site of Oakland Pride at 20th and Franklin streets, but it was fading and dug up during a recent major street construction project.
With the 2025 holiday season now in full swing, visitors to the Lakeshore LGBTQ Cultural District are encouraged to shop at the many small businesses in the area. For more information, check out this directory.
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