Bobbisue Thompson, centre, with Battlefords Pride, and town councillors Kevin Russell and Doug Laing helped paint a rainbow crosswalk in Battleford. (Tyler Marr/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Tyler Marr

A SIGN OF ACCEPTANCE

Pride rainbow crosswalk goes down in Battleford

Jun 27, 2019 | 11:42 AM

Fifty years ago, the Stonewall uprising in New York City by members of the LGBTQ+ community served as a catalyst for a liberation movement and the modern fight for gay rights across the globe.

In its wake, activist organizations sprung up across the U.S., leading to the first pride marches in 1970.

Today, the results from events in Greenwich Village are witnessed across the globe, including in the Battlefords.

But for Bobbisue Thompson with Battlefords Pride, even as she watched paint go down on a rainbow crosswalk in Battleford, the fight for acceptance continues.

“[Stonewall] is the reason we have progress. We would still be illegal if it wasn’t for that,” she said. “It has come a long way but we still have a long way to go.

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“Many of the original people spent their lives fighting for our rights and we need to honour that and continue on.”

Mayor Ames Leslie and Bobbisue Thompson with Battlefords Pride hold a rainbow pride flag that will fly in Battleford. (Tyler Marr/battlefordsNOW Staff)

This is the second year the town has come together to paint a rainbow pedestrian crossing. The same paint purchased in year one was used again.

Thompson hopes ongoing activities in both communities will lead to greater acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community, as she said there are still many closeted individuals.

“They need to feel like they have some support,” she said. “For a lot of my life, I thought there was nobody else.”

Thompson said a long list of actives are on tap for Pride Week from Aug. 19 to 15, including a community barbecue and parade.

Mayor Ames Leslie picked up a paint roller and helped create the rainbow crosswalk in Battleford. (Tyler Marr/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Mayor Ames Leslie picked up a paint roller Wednesday night, saying he is proud of the community and town lawmakers for coming together and supporting the initiative once again.

He admits there were some minor objections to the project last year, which is common across Canada but is glad it did not falter the effort.

Leslie said if residents don’t accept the crosswalk for what it stands for – a show of support for the LGBTQ+ community – to at least admit it adds beauty to the community.

“We are diverse and inclusive of everybody,” he said.

Leslie pointed to the pushback as adding to the importance of continuing to paint the symbol.

“If I get a complaint about the town being involved in this or the misconception that taxpayers are paying for this, then we still have a problem with inclusion in our community,” he said. “It is baby steps but we are going to get there.”

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tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr