CENTRE WELLINGTON – Local residents are being asked to show their support for the LGBT community through a returning initiative.
Renegade Rainbows, first launched in Centre Wellington in 2021, is a campaign to draw rainbows in chalk on driveways and other spots throughout town ahead of June Pride Month. Residents could do their own rainbows or have volunteers
Nicole Shepard, this year’s coordinator, said she was one of those who got a rainbow in her driveway last year and took the chance to spearhead it as the previous organizer is a candidate in the provincial election.
“It is something that is important to me and I figured I would try to get it off the ground and sort of blow it up this year,” Shepard said.
She said last year was successful but she wants to try to top it this year by reaching out to more groups but also leaving it more open this year.
“Support and solidarity can look different for different people, so we’re still going to be chalking and going around to different driveways, businesses and sidewalks and all that but I’m kind of encouraging people, you know, to even just put a flag on your house or in your yard,” Shepard said.
Shepard said these kinds of small signs of support are important to show LGBT community members they are accepted and welcome in Centre Wellington. It’s not that this support isn’t there in town but Shepard said it might not be quite as overt as it is in larger cities such as Toronto where she’s from.
“These initiatives can kind of start these conversations and normalize, maybe throwing up a rainbow flag for the month of June or whatever it might be,” Shepard said.
The tentative plan is to have volunteers chalk up the town the last weekend of May but this could be subject to change.
For now, Shepard is looking to assemble volunteers and find those willing to have volunteers come and draw a rainbow on their driveway. But again stressing an open format, Shepard said they don’t have to have volunteers come to their driveways but encouraged people to even simply grab some chalk and draw rainbows or hearts with their children.
“It’s informal, it can look however people want it to look and I just want people to get involved,” Shepard said.
Those interested in volunteering or having a rainbow are asked to email [email protected].
