(Regina) The student town of Westlock, Alberta, has voted in favor of a bylaw banning pride flags and rainbow crosswalks on municipal property.
Published yesterday at 4:21 p.m.
Jeremy Simes The Canadian Press
Shaylin Lussier, a member of the Westlock Gay-Straight Alliance, led the effort last year to have a crosswalk painted in Pride colors for the first time in this city of 4,800 north of Edmonton.
This passage can now be deleted.
“It was hard,” Ms. Lussier, 18, said in a telephone interview this week.
Jess Lucas, 15, also a member of the Gay-Straight Alliance, helped paint the crosswalk and said she was heartbroken.
“It doesn’t just affect our group. This also affects various flags, such as the Métis and Inuit flag for Truth and Reconciliation and the Ukrainian flag for the ongoing war. »
In February, a slim majority of the city voted to fly only government flags and paint crosswalks with a white stripe pattern.
1,302 votes were cast in the referendum, 663 for and 639 against.
The city's mayor and city council had opposed the move, saying it would send a negative message about inclusivity and hurt investment.
The Westlock Neutrality Team, a group that has started a petition for change, says on its website that governments should not promote minority groups.
“Those who voted for neutrality did so with a genuine desire to keep our community whole and inclusive,” the group said in a post on the website.
The students said they had great fun painting the crosswalk last year. It included black and white lines to represent allies who do not identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community, Lussier added.
“I have received text messages from adults in our community who are happy about the loss of the crosswalk. I'm older now and can deal with it, but I feel sorry for the younger ones. »
Although those who painted the crosswalk are dissatisfied, this narrow victory shows there is more support for the LGBTQ+ community than previously thought, said Cynthia Rondeau, an 18-year-old student.
“Years ago the vote would not have been so close. The vote would have been won overwhelmingly,” Ms. Rondeau said.
“It's really good and there is hope that the city has the opportunity to develop.” There are more people who, even if they disagree, still show their appreciation and are still allies with us. »
Jess Lucas said the crosswalk made members of the LGBTQ+ community feel seen.
“We appreciated the people who supported us. »
Lussier said members of the Gay-Straight Alliance can still find ways to promote inclusion in the community.
Some have already put up Pride flags in their gardens. Other residents have asked students to paint their garage doors or driveways rainbow, Lussier said.
“There are a lot of little things we can do to make the city … more colorful,” Lussier said.
The passage was removed in the spring
Westlock Mayor Jon Kramer said the vote cannot be overturned by the City Council unless a referendum is held in the future and called for the ban to be lifted.
However, he said the council would also find other ways to accommodate marginalized groups, including those in the LGBTQ+ community.
Kramer said there is no set date for the rainbow crosswalk's removal, but it will likely be sometime in the spring.
Lussier said it was impressive to know that all of Alberta and the rest of the country knew what was going on in the community.
“I was born and raised in Westlock and I never really heard people acknowledge that we are a town that exists, even in Alberta. »
Lussier said most people have told the students they support their cause.
“There are just people doing everything they can to support us, even more than ever,” she said. Our Instagram is exploding. »
LGBTQ+ issues have become increasingly important under conservative provincial governments.
Most recently, the United Conservative Party government in Alberta announced plans to introduce rules this fall that would require parental consent if students under 15 want to change their name or pronouns at school. Students aged 16 and 17 would not need consent, but their parents would have to be informed.
The province also plans to restrict gender-affirming treatments, teaching about gender and sexuality in schools and the participation of trans women in sports.
“There are attacks on trans and LGBT children on all fronts right now,” Ms. Lussier said.
Jess Lucas said members of the Gay-Straight Alliance remain strong.
“We will do everything we can to give back to our community, show a little love and support and get a little love and support in return. »