‘Acceptance Street:’ NYC Renames Gay Street In Honor Of WorldPride

The iconic Gay Street in NYC’s Greenwich Village got a makeover in celebration of WorldPride. The street is now “Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, Nonbinary, Pansexual, Two Spirit, + Street.” Or, if you want, you can just call it “Acceptance Street,” according to the City Commission on Human Rights.

We joined @NYCCHR, @mayorsCAU, @antoni, @aaronphilipxo & more to proudly🏳️‍🌈 unveil new street signs at Christopher St & Gay St (/Lesbian St/Bisexual St/Trans St/Queer St/Intersex St/Asexual St/Nonbinary St/Pansexual St/Two Spirit St/+ St).

Welcome to Acceptance St! #PrideMonth pic.twitter.com/WbzkJGvLky

— NYC DOT (@NYC_DOT) June 17, 2019

The new sign takes up more than half a pole, with each identity getting its own individual sign and color. Together, the sign makes up a full rainbow. For now, the new street name is a temporary change to reflect both the queer history of Greenwich Village and the New York City’s Commission on Human Rights work protecting LGBTQ rights.

While the street may not originally been named to celebrate queer communities, it’s location and name have made it an icon in the gay community. According to LGBTQNation, the street was probably originally named for a landowner. Despite its origins, however, Gay Street is an iconic location and this new amalgamation of amazing queer signage makes it even more relevant for members of the LGBTQ Community. The Human Rights Commission appears to be investigating how if it is possible to make the new signage on Acceptance Street a permanent addition to the street pole. The signage itself was underwritten by Mastercard, which is also celebrating its new initiative that allows trans Mastercard users to more easily update their names on their credit cards.

The rainbow signs were unveiled right in time to celebrate WorldPride, which is being hosted in New York City this year. More than 3 million people are expected to attend pride celebrations in the city alone, with the march (which is being billed as the biggest pride celebration in the world) set to roll through Manhattan on Sunday, June 30th.

If you’re in New York City for pride, you can head to the corner of Gay Street and Christopher Street during your partying to snap a deliciously queer Insta pic underneath the new sign.