CENTRE WELLINGTON – Elora and Fergus residents will get a chance to show their support for the LGBTQ+ community in June with a rainbow on their driveway.
Renegade Rainbows is an initiative to kick-off pride month with volunteers doing chalk rainbows on the driveways of interested residents.
Organizer Diane Ballantyne, also a Wellington County councillor and high school teacher, said the idea came around when she saw a picture of herself marching in the Toronto Pride Parade a few years ago.
She said she realized this will be the second year in a row that event won’t be happening and what loss it is for that community.
“I thought ‘what can we do to try to demonstrate, not just inclusion, but celebration of our LGBTQ community?’” Ballantyne said in a phone interview.
“Chalk washes away, it’s easy to do, it’s impermanent and people are out walking around a lot more so that may actually mean that more rainbows are seen as a result.”
People can do the rainbows themselves but there will also be volunteers who can safely and socially distantly draw a rainbow on your driveway.
Ballantyne said based on data from the Canadian Mental Health Association, people in the LGBTQ+ community experience higher rates of depression, anxiety and self harm partly from marginalization and isolation.
One of the suggestions to promote positive mental health and well being is to have a supportive neighbourhood.
“I know it’s one small act but collectively it can make a real impression,” Ballantyne said.
She said this could help those who have homophobic feelings be more aware of the support for LGBTQ+ community in town and shows those who have low levels of internalized homophobia that they are a celebrated part of the community.
Ballantyne said she thinks it can further break down the stereotype of smaller towns not being as open-minded among others.
“The more important stereotype to break down is that if you’re part of the LGBTQ community, you’re not welcome. I want to work to take small acts to try to break that down,” Ballantyne said.
She said she hopes to see rainbows in every driveway across Centre Wellington. The plan is to do the drawings the weekend before June 1.
Those who are interested in a chalk drawing, or to volunteer as a rainbow artist, can email [email protected] or reach out to Ballantyne through her social media channels.
