Rainbow Project receives ‘overwhelming support’
By Canton CitizenDear Editor:
I’d like to thank the Canton community for its overwhelming support of the Canton Rainbow Project, where we asked residents and businesses to fly the rainbow flag during June for Pride Month as a symbol of support for our LGBTQ friends, family members and neighbors in Canton and elsewhere. I’m proud to say 135 flags were distributed and many others bought flags on their own.
The rainbow flag was not always used as a symbol of pride for the LGBTQ community. Prior to the rainbow flag, a pink triangle was used. However, many were uncomfortable with that symbol since an upside down pink triangle was used to identify homosexual men during the Holocaust and was one of several categories to mark prisoners in Nazi concentration camps during World War II. Gilbert Baker created the rainbow flag and carried it on June 25, 1978 to represent the LGBTQ community. The rest, as they say, is history. Each color in the flag carries its own meaning: pink for sex, red for life, orange for healing, yellow for sun, green for nature, turquoise for magic, blue for peace, and purple for spirit.
It is important to know the history of the flag and also the history of the LGBTQ community since those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. The LGBTQ community, as well as many other marginalized members of our society, have fought for years to be able just to live, work and play in peace without being discriminated against in housing, education, employment, voting rights, and other basic human rights, just because of who they are. Much progress has been made. While we are not at the finish line yet, we are also not going to let anyone push this progress backwards.
The rainbow flag is a statement of love and acceptance. While there have been a few negative actions and statements, the overwhelming response throughout town has been positive. Thank you, Canton, for recognizing that love is love. It gives me much hope and encouragement.
Sincerely,
Christine Smith
Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=39274
Posted by Canton Citizen
on Jun 30 2018. Filed under From One Citizen to Another, Opinion.
Both comments and pings are currently closed.
