A Couple Misconceptions

A lie that many seem to be believing is that a Neutrality Bylaw is specifically against the Pride community and that our goal is to show disdain, even hatred, to those who identify with the Pride community.

The wording of the petition targets no specific group but simply asks for public spaces to remain neutral.

Our Team was formed after the passing of the Decorative Crosswalk Policy and we knew that the way was open for multiple painted crosswalks. In fact, two more groups had already applied to paint main street crosswalks. However, the town’s Decorative Crosswalk Policy is flawed.

The Policy reads “Decorative Crosswalks are meant to add colour and vibrancy to the Town’s streets” and under point 7, “The artwork must ensure the design is free from advertising, text, logos or political symbols.”

Based simply on this point alone, the crosswalks that have been approved should not have been.

Rainbow crosswalks can and have been considered political as they are deeply rooted in activism and resistance. Vancouver’s Pride Society executive director Andrea Arnot said in 2019, “Pride is political. We are not partisan but political.” “Gay/LGBTQIA+ Pride is political activism by nature” says a June 2023 article from the University of London. Janis Irwin quoted Bea Lissima, a performer for Edmonton pride Festival in 2020, who said “Pride is political and we’re still here.”

Maybe our Town Council doesn’t see the rainbow symbol as political but Pride sure does. Does that mean then that because Town Council deems it non-political that it is and everyone else is wrong? Who gets to decide that? The CAO? Town Council’s allowance of a rainbow crosswalk painting goes against their own policy. So, we seek neutrality not because we hate or even dislike people within the Pride community, but because town crosswalks are not the place for political, social or religious symbols.

The Disability Pride Flag can and has also served as a political statement as it is a symbol of resistance and activism. In fact, Disability Pride Month marks the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act in the United States. The very nature of Disability Pride Month and the flag is opposition to the status quo and a seeking for political change and recognition. Again, it’s possible Town Council doesn’t see it as a political symbol, but what about the guy down the street who is disabled and doesn’t identify at all with the flag because he sees it as political? Is his opinion worth less than the CAO’s? We do not hate or disrespect any person with a disability, but town crosswalks are not the place for political symbols.

The Town Council also approved a crosswalk for the Legion; however, the design was not disclosed in public documents so we cannot comment on it. Only an article was submitted about a veteran’s crosswalk in Sarnia that included red and white stripes as well as a banner with the words “Lest We Forget’.

We have nothing against any of these groups, we simply believe that our streets should remain neutral spaces, not posters for groups and communities around town. Crosswalks are traffic signals not meant to be used as public statements for any group.

A second misconception around a Neutrality Bylaw is that the town’s culture would be erased. This is a drastic jump from what the petition is asking. Political, social and religious neutrality on town buildings, crosswalks, and flagpoles doesn’t mean residents can show nothing of their beliefs on their own private property.

Private property is not affected by the proposed bylaw. The United Church on main street has a flag hanging in their window for all to see. The Barrhead Co-op, a privately owned business will not be prohibited from putting up their nativity scene on top of their building in December. Private residences and churches would still be allowed to decorate their property as they see fit. Businesses put decals, stickers and posters up all the time supporting one thing or another. A Neutrality Bylaw would not prohibit these sorts of things, it would only require Town property, crosswalks and flagpoles to be kept neutral for everyone.

Rallies or handing out pamphlets is not affected by the bylaw. These are temporary events that are not endorsed, approved or even disapproved by the town. However, the spaces these rallies and pamphleteers take up should remain neutral public space.

We have heard many concerns regarding the seasonal lights that get hung on light posts in December. It is absurd to think that a Neutrality Bylaw would stop these lights from being hung. These decorations are in themselves free of any political, religious or social symbolism. Santas, poinsettias, tin soldiers and reindeer are not inherently anything but perhaps seasonal. Though if one really wants them gone, it could be argued that the poinsettia plant is a symbol of Turkish patriotism. Barrhead Neutrality, however, will not make this argument.

The Neutrality Bylaw is about having only national, provincial, and municipal flags flying on Town owned flagpoles. This does not mean that we cannot have the flags of our twin town countries flying as is the case now because they are national flags.

The Neutrality Bylaw is about keeping crosswalks painted in the standard white striped pattern between two parallel lines. Or in the case of Barrhead’s downtown crosswalk, keeping it free of paint as the crosswalk is permanently marked by parallel brick lines marking both edges of the crosswalk which the Town doesn’t want to paint.

Do not fear, this is not an overreaching bylaw that would destroy the culture of our town and it does not take away from resident’s rights to display whatever political, religious or social symbols they like on their own yards or personal flagpoles.