A group of high school students in Ellsworth, Maine received their school board’s endorsement to paint two crosswalks in the colors of the rainbow flag at the city’s high school and elementary-middle school, with the possibility of more in the city’s downtown area.
After the school board voted 4-1 in favor of the proposal last week, Ellsworth High’s student-run Gender Sexuality Diversity Alliance’s request for additional crosswalks in the city went to the city council last night (Aug. 18).
“The students decided to submit [the] proposal to the City Council because they feel that lack of acceptance and bullying of the LGBTQ+ community is really a problem that runs far deeper than just the schoolyard,” the group’s faculty advisory Carrie Kutny, told the Bangor Daily News.
“A crosswalk is a symbol of safety,” Kutny told the board when one member asked, Why a crosswalk? “The kids were thinking on a metaphorical level what we can do,” she said. “It’s a visible symbol of safety, and that’s what we’re really trying to get at here.”
The board weighed the logistics and safety issues of installation and driver and pedestrian safety. They also commended the students’ initiative and voiced support for the school board–approved rainbow crosswalks on school grounds. Their discussion included comments emailed in from the community, overwhelmingly in support — many from parents of the public schools’ students and students themselves — and others with reservations.
After a lengthy deliberation, the vote came out 3-3 (with one abstention) — so the student proposal was not immediately accepted; however that vote was followed up with an unanimous vote to further study safety and logistics, addressing the concerns of the nay voters.
In the meantime, work can begin on the crosswalks at the school.
Reports BDN:
The group has received a grant from Healthy Acadia to pay for the paint, and the downtown revitalization group Heart of Ellsworth has offered to pay for other needed supplies, according to organizers. Neither city nor school funds would go toward the project, which is permitted under certain conditions by Maine Department of Transportation rules.
Other municipalities in Maine where crosswalks have been painted with rainbow colors in recent years include Bangor, Orono, Portland and South Portland. …
Dale Hamilton, chairman of the City Council, said he supports the general idea, though logistical issues such as public safety or crosswalk location could factor into the council’s eventual vote. He said he does not think painting crosswalks in Ellsworth with rainbow colors has to be seen as controversial.
“My opinion is that the request by youth in our community was respectful and intended to bring people together,” Hamilton said. “The rainbow symbol takes on many meanings and one meaning that we should all be able to be united behind is acceptance. “
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