Mayor Cathy Heron put a stick in the hornet's nest last week when she floated the idea of creating a rainbow crosswalk to support the LGBTQ community on social media.
While Heron's actions may have been well-intentioned – she said she wanted to make a marginalized community feel included – some say she should have known better than to use social media for that type of test.
The response was swift and predictable with many trolls spewing homophobic, mean-spirited and outright rude comments. Not exactly a supportive message for the LGBTQ community or others to see.
Mia Soetaert, a founding member of LGBTQ youth support group Outloud, said she was disappointed to see some of the comments. Soetart said that a rainbow crosswalk would be a positive message, particularly for young people.
Heron was upbeat about the social media feedback, saying 67 per cent of those who weighed in favoured a rainbow crosswalk. She said she was overwhelmed by responses and heartened by the fact many in the public ‘shouted’ down the trolls.
Others were against the very idea of spending money on another multi-coloured crosswalk, citing a waste of taxpayers’ dollars. They’re still smarting from the money the city spent on a different coloured crosswalk a few years ago – the one that faded away in front of city hall.
While that may be valid, Kris Wells, an assistant professor at the U of A in the Institute for Minority Studies and Services, makes the more important point. He said homophobic comments are a hazard of social media and city leaders should be careful about broaching these topics in such a forum. He said this could affect the safety and well-being of LGBTQ youth.
We think he is right to be concerned. If the mayor or any other leader wants to know how to support the LGBTQ community, perhaps the place to start might be asking groups like Outloud and city Gay Straight Alliances for feedback on actions the city might champion that would help that community.
Putting the question out on social media where an army of homophobic trolls are eagerly waiting to pounce is misguided at best and the mayor, an experienced social media user, should be engaging the LGBTQ community and others directly rather than through Facebook.
Giving the trolls an opportunity to attack only devalues what should be important, thoughtful dialogue.
