A pedestrian crossing that was to celebrate the 35th anniversary of Australian Gay Pride has been removed over safety concerns after people kept stopping on it to take photos.

People have taken to the streets of Sydney in protest at the move.

The annual Mardi Gras gay pride celebration there is one of the biggest tourist draws for Australia. But the coloured striped crossing on Oxford Street was removed on April 11th despite a petition drive that got 15,000 signatures and the support of people like former tennis star Martina Navratilova.

State officials said the crossing was dangerous citing CCTV footage showing people lying down on the road to take photos.

Campaign set to continue

A YouTube video was also posted of men chalking rainbow stripes in front of the office of the roads minister in New South Wales state Duncan Gay.

Mr. Gay said he was more than willing to take the criticism but that the chalked rainbows themselves were potentially dangerous.

But the movement looks set to continue. There are now calls for similar rainbow chalkings outside parliament in New Zealand which is expected to pass a marriage equality Bill shortly.