I like rainbows. Who doesn’t love a band of multicolours arching over a glimmering landscape on a spring afternoon? If you're lucky, you see them once or twice a year.
Nowadays a rainbow isn't just a rainbow, it’s a symbol used to declare support for the LGBQT community and beyond. It holds significant meaning in our culture and has become the most recognized symbol in the world.
While it promotes equality, acceptance and solidarity, I have been reminded that it also stirs up anger, fear and intolerance. There are those who live amongst us who have zero tolerance for people who present differently than the “norm.”
News this summer that rainbow flags hanging outside Ladner United Church had been defaced twice by vandals was a total shock to me. Call me naive, but I didn’t expect such a negative and violent response to the hanging of a rainbow flag in our small South Delta community.
The rainbow pride flag was invented by Gilbert Baker for the 1978 Gay Freedom parade in San Francisco and has been flying high ever since. It’s been over commercialized, from rainbow Doritos to rainbow cat toys. It’s also been modified many times. Recently in Philadelphia black and brown stripes were added to symbolize racial inclusivity. In parts of Europe, it's a peace flag and in South America it promotes ethnic diversity.
The response by the city to the vandalism was swift, with flags raised and plans for rainbow benches and plaques promoting diversity. The Tsawwassen First Nation is interested in modifying the rainbow flag to include its community because First Nations people continue to struggle with racism and stereotypes. What a fantastic idea.
Perhaps that act of vandalism, by the person or persons who defaced the flag, has backfired. It certainly appears to have ignited feelings of love, peace and solidarity in our community. It’s an exciting proposition that the vandalism has mobilized people to speak their minds, and prompted requests for our young people to come up with new public designs of inclusivity.
Haters will continue to hate, but education, communication and visibility can help extinguish intolerance and bigotry.
UK lifestyle influencer India Hicks lives in the Bahamas with her husband, four sons and daughter Domino. One of her sons Wesley is black. India tells how recently Domino and a new friend were jumping on the trampoline.
“How many brothers do you have?” asked the new friend. “Four,”said Domino. Seconds later Wesley appeared in the garden. Domino said, “That’s my oldest brother over there, he’s adopted.” The new friend asked, “Does he know he’s adopted?”
In a perfect world we would see colour and race as the young girl on the trampoline did.
My hope is that all members of our community are inclusive, accepting and respectful of all races, colours, religions or sexual orientation.
Ironically, we are one step closer to that goal after an act of hate turned into positive action.
Ingrid Abbott is a freelance writer and broadcaster who has always believed there is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
