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Covington preps for Pride and transforms crosswalks into rainbows

Julia Fair
Cincinnati Enquirer

COVINGTON -- Aria McKee glanced at her toes freshly grazed with bright yellow paint. She didn’t seem to care and smiled as her nanny continued to help her paint.

At 3 years old, McKee was one of the youngest community members who helped paint a unifying rainbow inside two crosswalks on Bakewell Street in Covington. More than a dozen community members gathered Friday afternoon to paint the crosswalks in preparation for the city’s 10th Pride celebration.

Bonnie Meyer, one of the chairs that organized the Northern Kentucky Pride Festival, stood in between the crosswalk, made sure there was enough painters tape everyone had a task.

Meyer worked with the city to get permission to paint the crosswalks 

 “When it feels like there’s bias or discrimination happening in Kentucky, the city of Covington steps up and says 'Not in our city.'

Katie Meyer puts finishing touches on the green stripe in the rainbow crosswalk in Covington on June 7.

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The city’s parade begins Sunday at 1 p.m. at Covington Landing, according to a news release from the city. It will end at Goebel park where the Northern Kentucky Pridefest will take place with 50 vendors, live music and a family and kid zone.

Covington is one of 10 cities in Kentucky that has a fairness ordinance that prohibits discrimination against a person based on their sexual orientation and gender identity, among other protections.

Meyer, a resident of the city, wanted Friday’s project to be a visible reminder of that.

“This is such a visible marker of the city’s support and of the thriving community that we have here,” Meyer said.

The splash of color on the crosswalks will serve as a permanent reminder of the commitment to the LGBTQ  community, Meyer said.

This year’s Pride is monumental is a few ways, Meyer said as the primary colors were mixed behind her to create all of the colors of the rainbow.

Covington’s 10th Pride anniversary is also the 20th anniversary of the City of Louisville’s fairness ordinance. It was the first city in Kentucky to pass a local fairness law. This year is also the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, an event many point to as a pivotal event in the gay rights movement.

“Not only do we have a celebration, it’s nice to see teens and young adults and adults and grandparents come and celebrate everything,” said Chad Turner, who lives in Covington.

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Turner and Meyer want the sidewalk project to have an impact beyond the city’s Pride celebration on Sunday. It’s a permanent installment with a permanent message, Meyer said.

 “I hope they see this as a reminder and a mark of the commitment that Northern Kentucky but specifically Covington has to ensuring this is an inclusive, welcoming place for all members of our community,” said Meyer.

Julia is the new Northern Kentucky government reporter through the Report For America program. Do you know something she should know? Send her a note at jfair@enquirer.com and follow her on twitter at @JFair_Reports.