CIVIC CENTER — Twitter has taken a colorful turn after a number of city agencies changed their logos recently to incorporate the rainbow flag ahead of the annual Gay Pride Week — at the request of the mayor's office.
Mayor Bill de Blasio's office sent out an email Monday to city agencies telling them that the mayor, first lady and other city leaders would be celebrating Pride Week by changing their Twitter avatars to a new, rainbow-themed look — and "encouraged" them to do so as well, according to Jessica Singleton, the city's digital director.
The email went out to approximately 60 city agencies and departments, and included a logo that the agencies were encouraged to use, according to the mayor's office.
“We feel like this is a really easy and simple way to make a big statement,” Singleton said.
But the change was not mandatory, she said.
“This wasn’t a decree," she said. "We gave them the option of doing this."
While an exact number of city agencies who took up the mayor’s call was not immediately available, the mayor's office estimated that dozens of agencies changed their social media icons to show their support for the gay, lesbian and transgender communities.
While many agencies are using the NYC logo template sent out by the mayor, others have altered the design by adding their own logo over the pride flag, or made an entirely original design.
Singleton said her office’s graphic designer will work with agencies to create graphics if they ask, but most agencies “have their own capable, wonderful teams” that do the work themselves.
Not all city agencies are participating, however. Notable agencies who did not change their Twitter avatar include the NYPD’s official account, the Office of Emergency Managment and the Administration for Children’s Services.
Singleton said the Department of Sanitation opted out of the Pride icon while the department is in mourning over the death of sanitation worker Steven Frosch.
