To Lord Mayor Betty Disero and Niagara-on-the-Lake Town Council: OUTniagara, a non-profit organization that unites, supports and celebrates Niagara’s sexual- and gender-diverse communities, is adding its voice to endorse a permanent installation of a Progress Pride rainbow crosswalk at the intersection of Queen and King Streets in the Queen-Picton Heritage Conservation District.
We congratulate the town’s diversity committee and many businesses in the area for endorsing the installation of the rainbow crosswalk, and encourage town council and the heritage committee to do the same. The proposed project, like the rainbow flag the town raises in June to recognize Pride Month, is a visible affirmation and recognition of the multi-generational lives and contributions made by Niagara’s 2SLGBTQQIA+ communities. A rainbow crosswalk and potential rainbow benches in NOTL’s heritage district would signal strong support for communities that historically are unrecognized, under-represented, underserved, and underappreciated. Heritage districts in other Ontario towns both big (Hamilton, Milton) and small (Brantford, Kincardine/Owen Sound, Midland), have already added rainbow crosswalks to support and recognize sexual-and gender-diverse communities.
In a Community Strengths and Needs Assessment survey facilitated by Wisdom2Action for OUTniagara, and funded by a generous federal grant, several respondents of the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community specifically mentioned the positive impacts of a rainbow crosswalk, and concerns such as vandalism:
• “I think visual displays of support make me feel best. Things like the signs on lawns or the painted sidewalk that was in downtown St. Catharines. They make me feel good when I see them.”
• “I love the Pride Crosswalk. Seeing it and walking on it makes me more emotional than I thought it would. It seems like a small thing, but more murals and pride flag visibility could make a difference as well.”
• “The crosswalk was a good start/symbol. Governmental support is good, but there could be more representation.
• “Keep opening businesses, making park benches and crosswalks. Put it everywhere so that it can’t be ignored. That those who belong to this group aren’t bad people, or wrong for existing.
• “This community needs to know that we are here and we aren’t going anywhere, no matter how much they vandalize a rainbow crosswalk.”
• “The slow response to the vandalized crosswalk was really disheartening and it feels like the city was grossly performative and have already forgotten this.”
The proposed installation of a rainbow crosswalk falls well within the intent of the Coalition of Inclusive Municipalities and the town’s own Heritage District Plan. By joining the Coalition in 2020, the town committed to “respecting, protecting, and promoting human rights and diversity.” The town’s District Plan was written in 1986, and even though it did not consider the possibility for installations such as the Progress Pride crosswalk and bench, it does advocate for well-designed and “special and inviting individuality” reflecting the town and district.
As a major tourist destination, the positive goodwill and economic impact of installing a rainbow crosswalk cannot be underestimated. Imagine visiting from a country where 2SLGBTQQIA+ people are imprisoned (or worse) because of their sexuality and/or gender identification, and seeing a welcoming flag, crosswalk or bench.
Some members of the heritage committee have expressed concern that the colours of the proposed rainbow crosswalk are “too jarring” and suggested that they be toned down. OUTniagara strongly objects to this proposal. When American activist and artist Gilbert Baker designed the rainbow flag in 1978, he intended it to be a declaration: “Our job as gay people was to come out, to be visible, to live in the truth. A flag really fit that mission, because that’s a way of proclaiming your visibility or saying, ‘This is who I am!’” Subduing the colours suggests adhering to a historical colour palette is more important than supporting an internationally recognized symbol of human rights.
Visible support via a crosswalk is an important starting place for much-needed conversations about who is and isn’t welcome in Niagara-on-the-Lake. It would display critical support, especially for youth who are finding their way in a sometimes hostile and oppressive world. Statistics around self-harm and suicide, particularly in trans and non-binary communities, speak for themselves. Ongoing evidence of harmful speech and physical violence against members of the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community regionally, nationally, and globally further the need for visible support.
OUTniagara urges that the crosswalk be the beginning of follow-up commitment by Niagara-on-the-Lake to 2SLGBTQQIA+ communities, and that explicit strategies for positive action be developed around important issues like trans health care services, transportation, housing, and discrimination. OUTniagara is available to act as a consultant for any much-needed discussions.
We will be watching the proceedings with interest, and will hope for a positive outcome to the rainbow crosswalk initiative.
Kerry Goring
Co-chair OUTniagara
Celeste Turner
Co-Chair OUTniagara
