In the upcoming spring months, the city of Madison will undergo a pilot program created by city aldermen to promote LGBTQ inclusivity through the installation of rainbow murals on streets around the city. 

The murals, which will be funded mainly through private donations, will cost an estimated $50,000 to construct and would last for as long as eight years, according to The Capital Times. Similar concepts for these murals have been implemented in other cities as well.

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District 2 Alderman Patrick Heck said the goal for these murals is to visually represent Madison as an inclusive, welcoming environment to locals and visitors alike. Heck added that the murals will hopefully provide support for young people who may be in the process of coming out or have experienced challenges within the LGBTQ community. 

Heck said the idea originally came from Alds. Lindsay Lemmer and Marsha Rummel, of District 3 and District 6 respectively.

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According to the Capital Times, the first murals are planned to be painted on State Street by Capitol Square and on Capital City Trail by Monona Terrace. The State Street mural is projected to be completed by June, which is when Heck said Madison will attract visitors from the Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee. Heck added that June is also the designated LGBTQ Pride Month. 

Heck said an extension of the pilot program will depend on its success this summer.