Re: Rainbow crosswalk (Gazette, May 26, "Rainbow crosswalk a bad idea"); (Gazette, May 12, "Online poll stirs rainbow crosswalk conflict")
To Marcel Sieben, Mayor Cathy Heron, city council and all residents of St. Albert:
LGBTQ2+ youth still face many risk factors, even within our own community. They are at a much higher risk rate of suicide, depression, and homelessness. All of these effects are due to societal reactions. The good news is that with representation, we can reduce these risk factors. Even the presence of a Gay-Straight Alliance in a school can reduce suicide. Imagine what a whole city, visibly standing up for kids, would mean to them!
Painting one or two crosswalks in rainbow colours, that need to be repainted anyway, would send a loud and clear message to our youth, at a reasonable cost. These crosswalks would draw our attention in exactly the way that they are designed to do – to keep pedestrians safe. Studies have shown that rainbow crosswalks have no negative impacts on traffic or pedestrian safety.
Although we disagree about the crosswalks, I love your idea of increasing visibility of the Pride rainbow in other ways. A flag outside City Hall during Pride week is a great idea.
Let’s do them both. The majority of St. Albertans who responded to Heron were in support of this initiative. Mayor Heron, please make sure that the vocal minority doesn’t make decisions for you.
Gillian Robinson, St. Albert
