HomeMy WebLinkAboutGoderich Signal Star, 2017-03-29, Page 2020 Signal Star • Wednesday, March 29, 2017
Council vote 'No' on rainbow crosswalk
Kathleen Smith
Goderich Signal Star
On Monday, March 20 at the
Goderich "Town Hall, more than a
dozen members and allies of the
Huron Pride Group and of the
LGTBQ community were in
attendance for a Council
Meeting.
Mother and ally Kathleen Greer-.
Armour stood at the podium with
son Emmet Greer-Allin, who iden-
tifies as transgender and prefers
they/them pronouns.
They presented information on
how much support from the com-
munity they have, largely due to
campaigning and social media,
including how much they have
raised in funding up to date.
"It was clear to me and the rest of
the Huron County Pride group that
our community was in need of
more education about LGBTQ
issues. We believe the rainbow
crosswalk will provide opportuni-
ties for conversations and educa-
tion'; Greer -Armour stated.
The presentation also brought
forth reasons for a rainbow cross-
walk, citing it would not only be a
symbol of equality and acceptance
in the great town of Goderich, but
would also become a topic of inter-
est and initiate open discussions
and education on the LGBTQ
community.
Near the end of the presentation,
Greer -Armour added that "I, as a
parent and an ally, urge you all to
careful consider the rainbow cross-
walk and all that it can mean for
our community':
To date, the campaign has gath-
ered 390 signatures of support for
this project, and has raised a little
over $2500 of the necessary $5000
needed to fund this project.
Unfortunately the topic of
funding the project year after year
is where the meml)ers of Council
were divided with two different
minds on the subject.
Some Council members stated
that if the Huron Pride Group and
its supporters were able to raise the
necessary funds for this project,
and could continue to do so, that
the rainbow crosswalk was a won-
derful project symbolizing
inclusivity.
"We are very thankful for the
supportive and well-written state-
ments made by Councillors Elliott,
Hoy and Hansen. Each one
touched on many well -researched
and persuasive ideas that detailed
exactly why the Hainbow Crosswalk
is an important and fantastic pro-
ject", Greer -Armour stated in a
Facebook post, on the Huron
County Pride group page.
Other members mentioned in
statements during the Council
Meeting, that the town of Goderich
was a very accepting and welcom-
ing town.
They stated that the town would
support Pride month with flying
the Pride flag and other businesses
would fly Pride banners in support
of the LGBTQ community.
In addition, those same mem-
bers of Council were against the
campaign, with a focus on profes-
sional matters and monetary con-
cerns for the project.
On the topic that the painted
crosswalk would eventually fade
and need future funding year after
year, and a symbol of pride for the
LGBTQ community would be
walked and driven upon, there
were suggestions made instead of
the rainbow crosswalk.
Councillor Bazinet read from
email testimonials on the topic of
the rainbow crosswalk, which
offered other positive events or
The presentation of a campaign for a rainbow crosswalk
in Goderich as a symbol of equality and pride for the
LGBTQ community.
projects, to support inclusivity.
It was suggested a community
Pride month picnic or a mural on a
wall would make better for a sym-
bol of equality and inclusivity of all
walks of life, allowing members of
the community and tourists to
know that Goderich was a town of
equality for all people.
Vice Chair of Huron County
Pride, Greer -Armour, when asked
what was next for the Pride group
and the money raised so far,
explained what the money would
go towards.
It would be used to help fund
upcoming educational and social
events, and plan to bring the pro-
posal to Council again next year.
"We will continue to strive to
inspire open dialogue, provide
information resources, events, safe
spaces for communication, and
spread an association of tolerance,
love and acceptance across Huron
County"- an excerpt from the
Huron County Pride group Face -
book page's post regarding the
result of the proposal.
It was an informative and pas-
sionate presentation with per-
sonal accounts of struggle due to a
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•
Photos by Kathleen smith/Goderich Signal Star
Kathleen Greer -Armour presents to the Council on Monday,
March 20.
lack of acceptance, intolerance
and bigotry, the Huron County
Pride group had support in num-
bers at Goderich Town Hall for the
presentation.
Despite passionate proposals for
a project to symbolize tolerance,
love and acceptance, the members
of Council had a close result, but
majority voted against the project.
Alexandra Marine & General Hospital appreciated
Doreen Doherty and her fam-
ily have donated this picture in
memory of Doreen's late hus-
band Jim Doherty.
The picture was also donated
in appreciation of the care they
received at the Alexandra Marine
& General Hospital.
The donated framed picture
will be hung in the hallway of the
Medicine -Surgical -Obstetric
unity, where many patients will
be able to enjoy it.
Doreen stated that "in the
midst of illness, palliative care,
etc., it was so uplifting there. It
cheered Jim to hear a newborn
baby cry and to see the family vis-
iting. If Jim saw them in the hall,
he would speak to them, espe-
cially the children coming to see
their new baby brother or sister"
The staff expressed their
appreciation for the picture and
felt that it suited the unit very
well.
Doreen and her family thank
all of the hospital staff for the
care and compassion given while
Jim was in hospital.
GODERCH
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