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Niagara Falls
Tuesday, December 10, 2024
Letter: No one forced rainbow crosswalk on us, council approved it

Dear editor:

I am writing in response to Jean O'Malley's letter (“Rainbow crosswalk may happen but residents deserve input on location“) in the Feb. 10 edition of The Lake Report.

I agree with Ms. O'Malley that the polling on this issue by the town and by The Lake Report doesn't tell us much about the level of public support for the rainbow crosswalk, as the sample of respondents to such surveys is unlikely to be representative of the population.

No political jurisdiction I know of conducts properly designed scientific surveys.

The way to gauge support for a policy is the democratic process.

The rainbow crosswalk initiative is not being forced on us by “an unelected inclusivity committee.” It has been approved by our elected town council. It is the democratically determined will of the people.

If Ms. O'Malley sincerely thinks her view is in the majority, she should run for elected office.

As for her mention of LGBTQ as “a so-called persecuted group,” let's review the facts.

LGBTQ orientation is viewed as criminal in 70 countries, including most nations in Africa and Asia (including Russia), several Caribbean nations, several Pacific countries, and one in South America.

Penalties include prolonged imprisonment, mutilation, and (in nine countries) execution.

The Taliban, for instance, like to throw gay people off the roof of the highest building they can find.

In many countries where LGBTQ is technically legal, vast numbers of such people are beaten and murdered. Canada is no stranger to these hate crimes.

A “so-called” persecuted group indeed.

Leonard George

 NOTL

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