Driving through Atlanta, one can find several markers of pride and LGBTQ+ support– from flags to murals to crosswalks. In fact, one of the most recognizable markers is none other than the steps to the Klaus Advanced Computing building right here at Georgia Tech. Yet, many of these colorful landmarks occur in the wake of tragic incidents, calling the motivation of these “signs of support” into question. While “rainbow washing” poses as a helping hand for the LGBTQ+ community, it fails to address the struggles that members of the LGBTQ+ community, like the AIDS crisis, continue to face.
In September 2017, 21-year-old Georgia Tech student Scout Schultz was killed by campus police (Stack). Scout identified as “bisexual, nonbinary, and intersex” and was a “driving force” of the Pride Alliance on campus (Stack). Many of the LGBTQ+ students on campus claimed to feel ignored by Tech’s administration, who failed to disclose at first that Schultz died at the hands of campus police (Stack). In 2021, the steps to Georgia Tech’s world famous computer science program began sporting a rainbow, in part as a memorial to Scout Schultz (Kallis). While many at the college appreciated the gesture of support, with the Pride Alliance president stating “the Pride staircase helps establish Georgia Tech as a safe space that promotes and supports inclusive progress,” they also agree that this gesture is only the beginning (Kallis).
Arguing that painting rainbows on stairs and crosswalks is problematic is a difficult debate to win– many members of the LGBTQ+ community assert that this visibility is necessary for true acceptance. However, “rainbow washing” is only the first of many steps to truly get LGBTQ+ individuals the help that they need. The problematic aspect of “rainbow washing” arises when colorful stairs are seen as an end rather than the beginning.
Another one of Atlanta’s famous rainbow landmarks is the colorful crosswalks at the intersection of Piedmont Avenue (Miers). This vibrant installation was created in the wake of the Pulse nightclub shootings in Orlando, FL, and honors LGBTQ+ lives that were unjustly taken (Miers). Both the Piedmont crosswalks and the Klaus steps were created as memorials of members of the LGBTQ+ community who lost their lives in tragic ways. However, many queer people all around Atlanta continue to endure struggles that remain unaddressed because institutions like local government and universities claim support without continuing to provide aid.
In 2018, the leading cause of death for Black men aged 35-44 was the treatable HIV/AIDS (McKenzie). The cause for this tragic statistic is not medical stagnation, but rather, disparities in resources and the stigma surrounding receiving treatment for the infection (McKenzie). Whether it is a lack of accessibility to resources or the stigma of the surrounding community, hundreds of people continue to suffer from a treatable disease, and local institutions ignore this epidemic while hiding behind a shield of rainbow staircases. A 2017 article in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution even states that “Atlanta consistently [ranks] among U.S. cities reporting the highest new rates of HIV infections, especially in communities of color,” and still Georgia Tech and the local Atlanta government pantomimes allyship with art installations made post-tragedy rather than addressing current crises (Staples).
Not only do these local institutions ignore the current struggles of Atlanta LGBTQ+ individuals, but the problem is further exacerbated by federal agencies. In 2017, the Center for Disease Control recognized the nonprofit AID Atlanta as an essential part of the process in combating the metropolitan AIDS crisis, specifically for young, gay, Black men (Staples). Yet when it came to requesting funding to continue their humanitarian mission, AID Atlanta was denied without explanation (Staples). To note, the CDC did continue to provide funding to other HIV/AIDS organizations, but “because of limited funding,” AID Atlanta, the organization specifically recognized for providing resources to LGBTQ+ communities of color, did not receive additional funding (Staples). Hundreds of community members protested this unfair treatment, advocating for themselves and LGBTQ+ individuals that needed the help that AID Atlanta offered, but these protestation received little bureaucratic response.
The vibrant rainbow symbols that decorate the streets and buildings of Atlanta may serve as visible expressions of support for the LGBTQ+ community, but they also reveal a deeper issue – the need for genuine and sustained action to address the multifaceted challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly those from marginalized backgrounds. While these colorful markers may raise awareness and foster a sense of acceptance, they should not be viewed as a destination, but rather as a starting point.
The tragic incidents that prompted the creation of these symbols should remind us that true allyship requires ongoing commitment and concrete efforts. It is vital that institutions like universities and local governments go beyond symbolic gestures and actively engage in initiatives that address the pressing issues within the LGBTQ+ community. This includes combating disparities in healthcare, challenging stigmas surrounding HIV/AIDS, and providing accessible resources for those in need.
Furthermore, the intersectionality of these challenges cannot be ignored. LGBTQ+ individuals of color face unique struggles that demand specific attention and resources. Inequities in access to healthcare, education, and employment persist, and they intersect with issues of sexuality and gender identity in complex ways. To effectively support LGBTQ+ communities, we must acknowledge and address these intersecting factors.
The rainbow symbols in Atlanta, while powerful in their own right, should inspire us to take meaningful actions that extend beyond surface-level gestures. True progress for the LGBTQ+ community requires sustained dedication to dismantling systemic inequalities and supporting those who need it most. Only then can we ensure that these symbols of pride represent not just the past, but also a brighter and more inclusive future for all members of the LGBTQ+ community.