By Thomas Ilalaole
Medill Reports

On North Halsted street from Melrose to Bradley, crosswalks will be adorned with rainbow colors next month just in time for the neighborhood’s Pride celebration. The Northalsted Business Alliance has planned the rainbow walks as a symbol of the LGBTQ community and also hopes it will draw more tourists to Boystown.

Thirteen of the crosswalks will be painted the colors of the rainbow, and the walk on the corner of Halsted and Melrose — next to Howard Brown Health — will be painted pink, blue and white in dedication to the transgender community.

Jesse Rosen, a transgender man who moved to Chicago just a few months ago, says hearing about the plans for the crosswalks makes him feel more welcome. “It’s a really nice way to show that area of town is especially a safe and friendly place for LGBT people to be,” he said.