Town Votes to Ban Pride Crosswalk, Overriding Pro-LGBTQ Town Council
Showing what a little organization and courage can do, a town of 5000 people in Central Alberta has banned all rainbow crosswalks following a vote put directly to the people in defiance of community leaders and politicians.
After the local LGBTQ club painted the garish sidewalk in front of the town of Westlock’s city council, with their full blessing, a petition was circulated to remove it under the auspices of having “neutrality” in public spaces. Supported in large part by churches, they received 10% of resident signatures, bringing their results before the town council.
After the town council rejected their petition demand, with mayor Jon Kramer later explaining “it went against our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion,” the town led a plebiscite- or a direct community vote, in accordance with their bylaws, asking:
“Do you agree that: only federal, provincial, and municipal flags may be flown on flagpoles on Town of Westlock municipal property; all crosswalks in the Town of Westlock must be the standard white striped pattern between two parallel white lines; and the existing rainbow-colored crosswalk in the Town of Westlock be removed.”
Despite town concil members going on the offensive to try to drum up support for sidewalk, “educating” all the homophobes who wanted it gone, the petitioners won 663 in favor and 639 opposed, with only 13% of residents needing to vote to accomplish their task. Following the vote, the town council coped and seethed but begrudgingly agreeing to tale it down, with the mayor pledging:
This plebiscite is binding, and as such, the bylaw does restrict how we are able to show this commitment. However, we will continue to find ways to embrace those in our community who need a helping hand, including marginalized groups. Equity is the reason we require wheelchair accessible parking; it is why we are developing an accessible playground; and yes, it is the reason we show support to marginalized groups like our local 2SLGBTQ+ community…That won’t stop, it will just take on a different form.”
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I propose that Alphabet People proponents paint their own faces with the mental illness color chart that is their ‘flag’ and leave our crosswalks (and flagpoles) be.
If the alphabet perverts want recognition, I suggest building them a closet for them to go back into.