'To me, it's peace and love': Springdale students make appeal for rainbow crosswalk

It will be at least one more day before councillorsfromSpringdalemakea decision on whether to allow a rainbow crosswalkin their community.

Students from Indian River High School's Gender Sexuality Alliance gave presentations to Springdale'stown council on Monday night, once again asking for the town's approval for a rainbow-painted crosswalk immediately outside the town's only high school.

To me, it's peace and love.- Maria Lawlor

Megan Paddock, Maria Lawlor,and Claudia Lillyspoke to Springdale'stown council in front of a packed council room.

While councillors listened to theirpresentation, the town council made no decision on the proposal on Monday night; Mayor Dave Edison said a special council meeting wasscheduled for Tuesday, although on Tuesday morning town officialstold CBC News there were no plans to do that.

Springdale council meeting blocked as rainbow crosswalk debate rages on

6 years ago

Duration 1:23

Students who want a rainbow crosswalk to support the LGBTQ community made an appeal to the Town of Springdale on Monday evening.

"We expected not to have a decision tonight, because it's a lot of information to take in," said Megan Paddock, a Grade 11 student.

Some supporters and onlookers including a CBC Newsreporter were held outside the council room, asSpringdale fire department officials said the room was at capacity.

"The biggest point we are trying to get across when we requested this sidewalk was to be able to include the LGBTQ community and show our support for them, because it's still a huge problem in our society," said Paddock.

"The more support we have, and the more we recognize it, the better it will be,the more it will be accepted."

'Peace and love'

Lawlor, 17, said a rainbow crosswalk promotes inclusion.

"To me, it's peace and love and I think that's really what our world needs," he said.

"It makes everyone feel welcome, anybody. And I think people would really like to see it, cause I think, again, that's what we need, especially in a small town."

Lawlor said town councillors asked if there were other ways to support the group, aside from a rainbow crosswalk. She says she's focused on the original goal.

"Based on where we are and the communities we live in, we are behind compared to most of Canada," addedClaudia Lilly."But I am very surprised and very glad to see the changes from just a few years ago of how much support, how much love we've been given."

On April 9,Springdale voted 4-3 against the crosswalk. Edison, who cast the deciding vote, told CBC News he did not want to create division in his community.

Edison refused an interview following Monday's meeting, as did the town's deputy mayor,Shawn Weir.

Ruth Cameron, one of the Gender Sexuality Alliance's teacher sponsors, said her group offered to fundraise to cover the costs of sidewalk painting themselves, in an attempt to address some of the concerns from town council.

"They may not be changed tonight, and it might not happen overnight," she said."Beliefs are so deep and they change gradually, but the process has started. And it's just as important to start the conversation as it is to finish it."