As a tireless advocate and member of the LGBTQ2+ community I celebrate the visual representation for inclusion in our community through the recent rainbow banner project slated for downtown Chilliwack. These banners show progress towards continued and open dialogue around removing Policy J-10 (blocking decorative flags) and Policy J-11 (blocking decorative crosswalks).
READ MORE: Rainbow-themed banners coming to downtown Chilliwack for pride month
We all walk in the footsteps of Shayla Hall, who has been consistently asking for a rainbow crosswalk for many years. It is imperative that we amplify the voices of female leadership in our city. Let’s build on this momentum following many years of hard work, and continue to move towards the goal of implementing inclusive policies. We must remove fundamentally harmful and exclusionary policies from the core of our city.
The mayor’s task force for inclusion, diversity and acceptance is no longer listed on the City of Chilliwack’s committee and task group page, and I think that we still have a ways to go, and work left to do. There is always room for growth, and having a permanent committee elevating diverse voices that need representation in our city is necessary for guiding forward movement.
Let’s celebrate these banners; they are a welcome addition to the pride flags and art installations downtown, while keeping our eyes on the prize. Removing policy J-10 and Policy J-11 will show the City of Chilliwack’s true commitment to the inclusion of the LGBTQ2S+ community.
Amber Price
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