Photo credit: Sue Vruno

After months of community members urging the Hennepin County to turn Lowry Bridge’s led lights rainbow for Pride, the county will light the bridge for Twin Cities Pride.

Last winter, the citizens urged the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners to approve Twin Cities Pride as one of the 25 community celebrations to be recognized by the bridge’s lights, but the board took a pass on Pride.

In a post on that campaign’s Facebook page, Commissioner Linda Higgins wrote.

“Commissioners Dorfman and McLaughlin and I tried every way we could, but still could not persuade a fourth vote to have the bridge automatically lit for Pride. We approved a list of about other 25 days. After the administration puts together the application and approval process, it could be requested separately. I’m sorry.”

Earlier this year, Twin Cities Pride executive director Dot Betzler started that process, and the county approved Pride’s application in mid-May.

Betzler told TheColu.mn, “Several people reached out to me, including Lisa Vecoli from the Tretter Collection and Brian Shekleton from Peter McLaughlin’s office, to let me know the county had a process in place. I filled out the application Brian sent me and applied.”

Melissa Booth in the County Administration office told TheColu.mn, “Submitted by the organization, the special lighting application for the Lowry Avenue bridge requesting rainbow lighting the evening of June 28 in recognition of the Pride event has been approved.”

Commissioner Higgins celebrated that news on Twitter on Tuesday afternoon.

Hennepin County administration has approved lighting the Lowry bridge in rainbow colors for PRIDE on June 28!

— Linda Higgins (@LindaIHiggins) May 27, 2014

Betzler said that Twin Cities Pride is also working to have the Interstate 35W Bridge lit in celebration of Pride. Last Friday, the Minneapolis City Council declared June to be Pride Month in the city, a necessary step for the 35W Bridge lighting.