Canberra’s iconic rainbow roundabout has been given a face-lift for the first time since it was first installed seven years ago.
The rainbow mural, which was first painted in the colours of the pride flag in 2017 to celebrate the Yes vote in the marriage equality postal survey, has been updated to include the progress pride flag.
That flag includes light blue, pink and white to represent trans, gender-diverse and gender non-conforming people, as well as non-binary individuals.
The fresh look also includes the colours black and brown to represent people of colour, as well as people living with AIDS.
The new colours were added this week, costing $16,000.
‘Flying your flag proudly’
The change was welcomed by Meridian ACT community development manager, Lee Caldwell, who said he believed it was the right time to update the flag.
The group offers support services to Canberra’s LGBTIQA+ community.
“We know for a fact that representation is incredibly important when we talk about LGBTQIA+ people in communities,” Mr Caldwell said.
“If people don’t see themselves represented, they can’t see a future with them in it.
“And flags are a big part of that. It’s all about pride and flying your flag proudly.”
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Intersex flag excluded
Despite welcoming the revamp, advocates have said the roundabout was not representative of everyone in the community.
Neither the intersex nor asexual community flags were included in the roundabout upgrade.
However, intersex community member and former A Gender Agenda member Cody Smith said there was no consensus in the community about whether or not the roundabout was the right place for the intersex flag.
“There is a larger feeling that the intersex flag represents a broader community and a very different set of issues,” they explained.
“We’d prefer to see the intersex flag celebrated individually.”
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A spokesperson for the City Renewal Authority, which had completed the roundabout upgrade, said there had been a discussion about whether to include the intersex flag.
However, they said ultimately the decision had been made not to “risk … reinforcing a perception of intersex issues as solely LGBTQIA+ issues”.
The authority said the government would instead consult on other ways to represent the intersex identity in Canberra, including through public artworks.
Representation must go beyond roundabouts
Sue Webeck, who chaired the Ministerial Advisory Council for LGBTQIA+ issues in Canberra, agreed there were many other ways to represent diverse identities beyond a roundabout.
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“Should recognition happen in all of our mainstream settings? In terms of street names, suburb names, in terms of monuments and other forms of recognition across our territory, absolutely,” Ms Webeck told the ABC.
“I think the voices of LGBTQIA+ plus community members need to be heard about what is it that they need from the government in regards to resourcing and support and how they are experiencing their lives in the ACT.”
The rainbow roundabout is located at the intersection of Lonsdale and Elouera Streets in Braddon.