This photo has been digitally altered to include the colours of the gay pride flag – AFP Factcheck

A photo that appears to show “anti-homeless spikes” painted in the colours of the rainbow has been shared hundreds of times on Facebook and Twitter. The posts suggest the spikes were painted to denote the gay pride flag. The photo, however, has been digitally altered to include the colours of the rainbow.

“Top ten romantic date ideas in liberal hell world,” reads a Facebook post that shared the photo on April 8, 2021.

“What if we kissed… at the pride themed anti-homeless spike covered underpass,” the photo’s text overlay states.

The same photo was also shared here, here and here on Facebook; and in this post on a Twitter account that often shares political satire. 

The photo, however, has been digitally altered.

A Google reverse image search found the original photo appeared in this report published on February 18, 2015 by UK newspaper The Guardian.

“Concrete spikes under a road bridge in Guangzhou city, Guangdong, China,” the photo showing grey colour road fixtures is captioned.

Below is a screenshot comparison of the altered photo (L) and the photo published by The Guardian (R):

The US photography website Shutterstock Editorial published the same photo here on July 2, 2012.

“Rows of concrete spikes have been laid beneath a road bridge in Guangzhou city to allegedly discourage homeless people from sleeping there,” the photo’s caption reads.

A report by China Daily, a Chinese state media outlet, included the same photo in a report about the installation of the road fixtures on July 6, 2012.