Tillsonburg’s rainbow crosswalk, a symbol of inclusion and support of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, continues to be a lightning rod in the community.
On August 3, Oxford County Pride organized a ‘stand of solidarity against hate and violence’ at the site of the Bridge Street West crosswalk, which was vandalized just three days after its installation on July 27.
“This is amazing, I am so proud of it,” said Tami Murray, chairman of the Oxford County Pride committee, thanking the 30-plus people who gathered to ‘Take a Stand.’
“I want to thank everyone for coming out tonight to initiate the newest crosswalk in Oxford County,” said Murray. “I want to thank all the town councilors who made it happen… and all the community members for their donations and our sponsors.”
Oxford County Pride and their supporters are getting louder and stronger, she said.
“Love is always louder and we’re always going to win. So they can damage the crosswalk, we’re going to clean the crosswalk, they can damage it, and it’s going to come right back. Eventually one part of that is going to get bored and I do not bore easily.”
“We’re just all humans, and there’s no reason why anybody shouldn’t have the right to just live their life,” said Tillsonburg Councilor Kelly Spencer, in support of the rainbow crosswalk.
The vandalism was cleaned within 24 hours by town spray washers. One week later it was deliberately vandalized again. The crosswalk was targeted once more on Aug. 11, when white paint was scattered across the rainbow. Oxford OPP posted photos of a person of interest and the damaged crosswalk on social media.
“We said if it wouldn’t spray off, we would definitely come back. They were very, very prompt,” said Murray, noting there has been a 65 per cent increase in homophobia, biphobia and transphobia within the last year.
She wants those statistics to change.
“I think a lot of people showing up tonight, a lot of disappointment on social media, people asking ‘how can we help, can we send funds?’ It’s going to make a difference. Acts of violence like this also mobilizes very good pro-social advocacy and action.”
