Newfoundland town that nixed rainbow crosswalk hoists Pride flag for first time

It might not be the rainbow crosswalk they once dreamed of, but members of the Indian River High School Gender-Sexuality Alliance are celebrating a first for the town of Springdale: a whole Pride Week.

At council on Monday, Mayor Dave Edison issued a declaration and raised a rainbow flag outside of town hall in the smallrural community in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The rising of the flag comes in the wake of national scrutiny for the town after council members twice refused to paint a rainbow crosswalk in front of the local high school.

"This marks the first pride week in Springdale, and it's purpose is to create a safe and inclusive Springdale that supports LGBTQ2+ persons, their friends, families and allies," Edison said as he read his declaration.

"Newfoundland and Labrador is a society open to everyone, including the LGBTQ2+ communities."

Edisonwas joined Monday bya dozenGSA members, including Claudia Lilly, Megan Paddock and MariaLawlor the three that gave a presentation pitching thecrosswalk in April.

Pride week a victory for GSA

Following the rejection, council promised to keep working with the group to find alternatives, and eventually announced Springdale's first Pride Week.

"It's really gratifying to see how far we've come,"said Grade 11 GSA member Megan Paddock."Even from getting denied, to having a pride week, and having all these activities to do for the community,"

Claudia Lilly who is graduating from Indian River High School this year said she didn't think a Pride Week would come to town after her group was turned down.

"The denial of the crosswalk did bring down our spirits, but we kept fighting" she said

"When you believe in something and you know it's important to you, it's important to keep fighting for it."

On Tuesday, Pride Week will continue with students from the alliance holding an information session at the Springdale Public Library, where they will talk about what they do and what it means to be an ally.

On Wednesday, the town will hold a Pride march.

It will befollowed immediately after by anall faith service at Grace United Church that will help attendees learn how to stand up against homophobia and transphobia.

The Springdale GSA's Pride eventswon't end there, either they're slated to be Pride marshals at the 2018 edition of St. John's Pride this summer.

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