MINTO – Municipal staff members are preparing a report in response to a request from the Minto Pride committee seeking the town’s help in setting up more durable decorations during Pride Month.
The request comes in response to continued vandalism of decorations currently installed by the committee.
“Every year our Pride decorations are targeted, and the outcome usually results in them being vandalized and destroyed,” stated committee chair Brayden Scott in a letter received by council on July 11.
The letter notes the Pride committee has worked towards “increasing representation” through the decorations that are put up every June in Clifford, Harriston and Palmerston.
Decorations generally consist of rainbow fabric placed on poles and a chalkboard and Pride flag displayed in a prominent area.
Examples of vandalism cited in the letter include:
- ripping and/or removing Pride flags from displays;
- ripping, slashing and/or removing Pride flag coverings/fabric from light fixtures;
- removing/cutting chalkboard signs with supportive Pride messages; and
- damaging or removing yard signs with the statement: “Minto, where your Pride belongs”.
In addition, vandals used black spray paint to deface a rainbow crosswalk in Harriston earlier in July.
“Thankfully, the town was able to get most of this removed quite quickly, however, the spray paint has permanently damaged the rainbow crosswalk display,” the letter notes.
The letter also states that “threatening messages” are consistently received by the group through social media outlets when promoting Pride-related activities.
“Targets and threats have been made towards vandalizing and removing our Pride decorations,” Scott states in the letter.
“Some may find it disheartening to hear about how hard or difficult this work continues to be in Minto, but we don’t mean to discourage you in any way.
“There’s power in sharing our experiences and in supporting one another.”
The committee suggests installing banners on downtown light fixtures during Pride month.
“Fergus and Elora are two nearby towns [which] currently have pride banners during the month of June,” the letter notes.
“These banners have a longer life-span than our temporary solution to wrap the light fixtures within the town, are more environmentally sustainable and cost effective, and would make it a lot more difficult for them to be vandalized and destroyed.”
Minto Pride committee members decorate a light standard in downtown Harriston. Advertiser file photo
The committee proposes taking responsibility for designing the banners and supplementing the cost in collaboration with the town.
“We understand that we have brought this consideration forward previously and we’re challenged with the cost associated with the town having them installed each year,” the letters states.
“We ask the town to consider how we can put a price on the representation of human rights for everyone, especially those in marginalized communities that are already under-represented and underfunded.”
The letters continues, “Banners are placed on the light fixtures during other celebrated months, so we believe it is a reasonable request to ask that we also offer this courtesy for Pride month.
“Members of the committee have also volunteered to take the training to install these banners to help supplement the cost to the town.”
Noting that vandalism and negative messaging is “in many cases out of the town’s control,” the committee points out “showing our community this matters to you is important and will have an effect.
“It is our wish that one day we will no longer need a Pride Month, or decorations displayed in every town, and that everyone will be treated with dignity and respect.
“However, until that day comes, it is important to raise awareness, acceptance and work towards promoting a community that is free from hate, violence and discrimination.”
Councillor Judy Dirksen asked if the letter would be dealt with under correspondence on the agenda “or do we wait until it shows up in the reports?”
“We will be bringing back a staff report, hopefully in August, to go into some further detail with regards to the initiative that they are proposing,” replied interim CAO Mark Potter.
