Back in August 2018, some idiot vandalized the rainbow crosswalk that the City of Burnaby had just painted on Jubilee in Metrotown.
Evelyn McGowan, from the Burnaby Youth Hub and one of the organizers of Burnaby Pride, told the NOW she was disappointed to hear about the vandalism.
“The rainbow crosswalk was installed as a symbol of hope and love, inclusion and belonging and to recognize and celebrate the LGBTQ2S+ community in Burnaby, which exists and has always existed, and vandalism to this crosswalk shows a fundamental disrespect for the residents of Burnaby, particularly the LGBTQ2S+ community,” she said.
It’s those powerful words I choose to remember instead of a bigot named Steve, who wrote the NOW after we ran a multi-page section recently to promote Pride events in our city.
“This whole Pride nonsense has gotten way out of hand,” wrote Steve, who says he is 50 years old. “Never in my life had I met anyone or seen anyone distressed over being gay or lesbian, from early childhood and on.”
Oh, gee, really? That’s what you’re basing our bigotry on?
Well, just because you don’t see it doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen on a massive scale. The fact is that bigotry causes great pain and suffering for the LGBTQ2S+ community.
Rainbow crossings and Pride events are just two ways to celebrate and, yes, remember the historic and current discrimination of the LGBTQ2S+ community.
Steve thinks it’s “kowtowing” and he’s “hurt” by this.
Child, please. Go away to your cave. We don’t need your hate.
Follow Chris Campbell on Twitter @shinebox44.
