COLUMBUS, Ohio — A colorful display planned to honor Pride Month in Whitehall was canceled after the city’s service department was met with “violence" while painting a crosswalk, officials said.
With Pride Month underway, many communities express themselves through events and festivals -- others choose to display rainbow colors through flags or artwork.
The City of Whitehall’s Service Department paints the crosswalks on South Yearling Road between East Main and East Broad streets every year for Pride. They also paint the crosswalks in front of main city buildings.
The painting underway at South Yearling Road was halted after city workers were faced with “disgusting intimidation tactics, violence and destruction of work,” a spokesperson said.
“To protect the health and welfare of our City Staff we have opted to honor Pride month with alternate methods,” the city said in part.
City leaders chose to cancel the project on South Yearling Road and instead put Pride flags on street poles and issued its first official proclamation for Pride Month in the city.
The city warned it will not be intimated and “stands with the LGBTQ+ community in promoting equal rights and condemning discrimination, prejudice, and violence in any form.”
“We strive to maintain and uplift a community where everyone feels valued and respected. Furthermore, anyone that violates the rights, safety and laws of the State of Ohio, and the City of Whitehall will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” the statement read in part.
However, the crosswalk on South Yearling Avenue that connects the city buildings to the police department will still be painted.
Gerald Dixon, a councilman in Whitehall, said that while he is grateful the community is finding ways to show pride, he wishes that they did not pivot to something else and “give in to the bullies."
"They suspended it because they started to do it and then there were people that came out and were harassing the service employees - insults, throwing trash at them, burning rubber, going through cones and so forth,” Dixon said. “That was the story I was given by the service director.”
Painting the crosswalk has been a tradition in Whitehall for a couple of years.
"I'm a little disappointed and saddened by the mayor's response to the bullies to say that now we're going to pivot to do something else. You can't allow bullies to win the day,” Dixon said.
Densil Porteous, executive director for Stonewall Columbus said he commends the city for its attempt to create a safe space and acknowledge those in the LGBTQ+ community.
“I think it is a sad moment that there are people still heckling city workers who simply tried to do their job. I do believe, however, if this is a commitment by the city of Whitehall, or any city that's wanting to present and demonstrate welcomeness to their community members, that they may want to take the resources necessary to provide safety and security for those city workers that are out there painting the roadway.” Porteous said.
