As you may or may not know, UFV’s rainbow crosswalk — situated between parking lots four and six on the Abbotsford campus — was recently vandalized, with black and white paint spilled over it.
This isn’t a new trend: rainbow sidewalks all throughout the Fraser Valley and beyond have been vandalized since they were first installed. In 2017, Fort Langley’s rainbow crosswalk was damaged by dark skid marks within an hour of it being painted. In 2022, a rainbow crosswalk in front of Abbotsford Senior Secondary — an initiative led by students — was spray-painted with black squiggles. In 2023, Hope’s rainbow crosswalk was spray-painted with offensive comments soon after other Pride-related vandalism occurred.
In response to the vandalism at UFV, Jackie Hogan — acting president and vice-chancellor at UFV — stated that a police investigation is under way, and that the university “unequivocally rejects any form of hate, intimidation or ignorance.” Additionally, UFV’s Community Health and Social Innovation (CHASI) Hub covered the vandalism in chalk, writing over top: “Pride Won’t Hide.”
While I’m glad to see the university standing behind its 2SLGBTQIA+ students, staff, and faculty, my response to this vandalism is, unfortunately, a little less deferential.
Before I say anything more, a gentle note: this isn’t directed at you — the one reading this article — unless you’re the one defacing rainbow sidewalks. At any rate, here are my thoughts on the matter.
I’m continually floored by the fact that people think any sort of hate toward others is acceptable. Beyond the fact that it takes active energy to dislike an entire group of people, these are people, others who live, and laugh, and love, and learn, just like everyone else — just like you.
And I can’t get past the mindset of: “Why is this what you’ve chosen to do with your time? Don’t you have work to do, or family members to see? Maybe you could learn guitar, or take up gardening.”
If I sound a bit sour, it’s because I am. I’m trying to be diplomatic, but when you decide your hate for a community is too big for you to contain — that it’s okay for you to destroy something that signifies love and acceptance — you’ve got some serious self-reflection to do.
I’m tired. We’re all tired. Please, for everyone’s sake, look inward and ask yourself how you could better spend your time. I’ll leave you with some wisdom from Audre Lorde:
“It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.” — Audre Lorde, Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches.
Regardless of how you feel, the 2SLGBTQIA+ community has always — and will always — be here. There will always be differences between you and someone else; it’s up to you to embrace those differences — to celebrate them — rather than turn toward hate.
Please take care of yourselves during hard and stressful times. If you’re struggling, UFV has pride support you can access, including a list of community and online resources.
