Lundar’s rainbow crosswalk defaced a third time

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 01/08/2023 (811 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Pride-themed rainbow crosswalk in Lundar has been vandalized for a third time since it was first painted in late June.

This time, a swastika was drawn over part of the crosswalk, and homophobic commentary was written on it in German.

The crosswalk was covered in tire marks and doused in gasoline on June 28. The crosswalk was re-painted on July 23 but was splashed with grey paint hours later.

RCMP received a tip on Sunday that the crosswalk had been vandalized a third time. The latest incident is being investigated as mischief, and security video has been collected, RCMP spokesman Sgt. Paul Manaigre said in an email. He did not state whether the incident is being investigated as a hate crime.

Lundar town Coun. Grant Sigfusson said he’s spoken to members of the community about the defacement.

“I’ve had replies from both sides, the ones who don’t want (the crosswalk) and the ones who do, and it’s the same reaction from both,” he said. “People are just disappointed that somebody (would do this).”

Sigfusson noted he had seen the security video and that the people seen on it are covering their faces.

A volunteer, who helped paint the crosswalk and wants to remain anonymous to avoid being targeted for speaking out, said that overt homophobia toward the small group of openly gay people in Lundar is rare. However, homophobia often manifests in the community in other ways, she said.

The volunteer said some community members leave disparaging remarks on social-media posts featuring LGBTTQ+ content.

“Basically, they’re saying to keep the kids out of it,” she said. “They say that they’re (LGBTTQ+ people are) trying to push this (being gay) on the children.”

She said she’s often heard unfriendly gossip about the few openly LGBTTQ+ people who live in Lundar.

The volunteer said she believes that attitude has caught on with some people in town. She said she doesn’t believe the people who defaced the crosswalk are neo-Nazis.

“I think there is a little group of people who are kind of getting ideas from the previous vandalism,” the volunteer said. “They got influenced the first time, and they’re just taking it too far.”

Manaigre said no charges have been laid regarding any of the vandalism.

graham.mcdonald@freepress.mb.ca