Another pair of Pride crosswalks painted in Rehoboth Beach

As June comes to a close, Pride Month is wrapping up in Rehoboth beach the same way it started – with the painting of Pride-themed crosswalks on Baltimore Avenue.

City officials, CAMP Rehoboth representatives and dozens of supporters participated in a two-part ceremony June 1 celebrating the month. First, the Pride flag was raised at city hall. Then, attendees walked up Steve Elkins Way to the intersection of Baltimore Avenue and Second Street, where two rainbow crosswalks had recently been painted. After a few words from Mayor Stan Mills, CAMP Rehoboth Executive Director Kim Leisey and former city commissioner Richard Byrne, two ribbons were cut – one for each crosswalk.

On June 25, a crew from the Rehoboth Beach Streets Department added two more Pride-themed crosswalks at the intersection of Baltimore Avenue and North First Street. Reaction to the second set of crosswalks was positive.

Byrne led the way in getting the walkway from the city hall parking lot to Second Street named after CAMP Rehoboth co-founder Steve Elkins. It's a wonderful and positive way for the city to show its support during Pride month, he said.

“Steve Elkins Way and now the rainbow stripes bring the heart and soul of our community together – so much more than simply colorful stripes on the pavement – but symbolic of our history, our identity and who we strive to be as a community,” said Byrne. “The city has clearly made an intentional statement that indeed the City of Rehoboth Beach has room for all.”

Now that there are painted rainbow crosswalks on both ends of the second block of Baltimore Avenue, the city is sending a clear message to the LGBTQ+ community that all are welcome, said Wesley Combs, CAMP Rehoboth board president.

“This further reinforces the city’s commitment to supporting organizations like CAMP Rehoboth, which has been located in this block since its founding more than 30 years ago,” said Combs. 

The rainbow crosswalks represent a colorful celebration of Rehoboth Beach's LGBTQ+ culture, said Mills. Their locations are appropriate because of the location of CAMP Rehoboth and the vibrancy of the LGBTQ+ culture in that area, he said.

“I'm pleased that the city and several community organizations could work together to make this happen,” said Mills.