Red Deer Pride grows amid suspected vandalism

For the first time, the City ofRed Deer has installed a rainbow crosswalkas a symbol of the upcoming Central Alberta Pride week yet some organizers are concerned tire skidmarksare a sign the community has away to go when it comes toinclusion.

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Crews had to touch up the multi-coloured stripes atRoss Street and Gaetz Avenueon Tuesday, one day afterseveralcity councillors and pride organizers held an event celebrating its installation.

"It crushed me a little bit until I realized some skidmarks on my rainbow is not going to get me down," said Joel Graham, event coordinator for the Central Alberta Pride Society.

He saidhe'drather focus on the strides the community has made since the society was created fouryears ago.

When asked if he thought the marks were made intentionally, he said "those people just need extra love is how we tackle that challenge."

'More serious issues'

Coun. Paul Harris, who is gay,said the crosswalk indicates how far the city has come in recent years.

"[There's]a lot of young people in this community and other communities that aren't feeling accepted, and so when you paint a crosswalk like this, it says to them 'it's OKto be who you are and you're just as important as anyone else in this community.'"

Harris said the effects of therecent mass shooting in Orlando are still being felt withinLGBTQ communities around the world, but doesn't want to give this scenario any more power.

"The gay lesbian bisexual transgender community has dealt with way more serious issues than this," saidAllison McKinnon,an LGBTQ ally who has attended numerous pride events in Canada and in Red Deer.

"I think it was just a crime of opportunity. Somebody saw an option to try and ruin something, but they can't and they won't."

City footed the bill

The city paid for the crosswalk paint atan estimated cost of $800, plus an extra $60 for the touch-ups, out of itsdiversity budget.

Graham saidhe and other organizers are looking into thepossibility of having aparade fornext year's event.

Central Alberta pride week runs Aug.13 to21.

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