Before and After – Rainbow Crosswalk Painted at EHS

On Wednesday, September 23rd the first rainbow crosswalk was painted at Ellsworth High School

The Ellsworth School Board approved the painting of the crosswalks on school property at the High School and Middle School on August 11th by a vote of 4-1.

According to the Facebook Group Rainbow Crosswalks for Ellsworth, the GSDA students conceived this idea as a way to celebrate Pride and to promote positive change. A rainbow signals to everyone that our community and schools are safe spaces for all. The students even procured a grant from Healthy Acadia, so that this project would cost Ellsworth taxpayers nothing

According to the 2019 Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey, 13.6% of high school students in Maine identify as LGBT. The survey also indicates that LGBT kids are significantly more likely to endure bullying, violence, discrimination, lack of adult support, suicidal ideation, and higher rates of substance abuse than their heterosexual and cisgender peers.

According to the conversation on Facebook, this request is a natural follow-up of "Rachel's Challenge" which the School System embraced last year as a means of fighting bullying.

There was no cost to the City of Ellsworth Schools as funding was provided by Healthy Acadia