Editor: I drove through the newly painted rainbow crosswalk on Friday, Sept. 15 heading home to Vancouver after a trip to address anti-LGBTQ extremist hate in Langley.
Our group opted for the scenic road through the now toll-free Golden Ears bridge and we stopped in Fort Langley for a much appreciated break from advocacy. What could be better than drinking in the beauty of this historic town centre, so we stopped for a much-appreciated snack before continuing on to Vancouver.
The rainbow crosswalk had not yet been vandalized and my companion and I were so thrilled to see it there. It actually showed us that things do change and hearts are opening.
This crosswalk made Fort Langley a better place to visit after a few more than usual shocked stares while we window shopped in your lovely town and we left on a clearly lifted high note.
I was saddened to learn this pretty little token of diversity and inclusion was so quickly vandalized.
There will likely always be bullies eagerly waiting for the chance to mindlessly hurt strangers because they didn’t benefit from being raised by parents with wisdom about such things or because they have a misguided belief that they somehow have an opinion to express about who others should be.
That said, the sadness at seeing this unkind act pales in importance when compared to the love, inclusion, and determination I imagine it took to get the sidewalk painted. Given the resurgent extremist expressions in Metro Vancouver in the last months, it seems likely that vandalism of this nature will continue, or worse, escalate.
One positive outcome of such a highly-visible hateful act is that it is there for all to view and reflect upon. It is also a reflection of our own inaction.
I look forward to seeing the crosswalk brought back to its natural beauty next time I pass through north Langley.
Morgane Oger
Chair, Trans Alliance Society
