Students may have noticed something missing after returning to campus from spring break. The Pride crosswalks that once welcomed students to campuses have been repainted white.
I walked into The Globe newsroom after hearing the news and said, “Sorry, folks. I am in a mood today.”
I realized this news was the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back. And, yes, in this case, I am the camel.
I graduated from Salt Lake Community College in 2021. Five years later, finding myself back in a space that I was once so proud to be a part of, I feel I’ve stepped into the Upside-Down version of a place that used to pride itself on its diversity and inclusion. The college was even nationally recognized for being LGBTQ+ friendly.
As a mom of queer kids, I felt assured that if they attended SLCC, they would learn in a place where multiple identities were reflected, including theirs.
The crosswalks are just the latest move, whether initiated by college administration or the state legislature, that strips that sense of belonging. SLCC says it repainted the crosswalks to comply with the National Manual on Uniform Traffic Control. But the message these acts send is that SLCC is quietly stepping away from the values it once championed.
Offices, services and centers have been restructured and renamed, prioritizing political compliance over student success. This comes on top of academic funding cuts, including SLCC cutting 5% more than Utah required. How is this serving students?
Peter Moosman, an SLCC alum, former assistant director of cultural programming and manager of the Gender and Sexuality Student Resource Center, was let go when the college closed the center in December, ending more than 15 years of employment.
Moosman said he remembered the 2016 dedication of the Pride crosswalks. He said the timing was especially poignant, coming shortly after a shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando killed 49 people.
“The president of the college was there and was speaking; it was a big deal,” he said, noting he had just come out as gay. “I just remember feeling so humbled and proud of where I worked.”
Moosman said the crosswalk symbolized a bridge to acceptance, inclusion and belonging.
“It was very meaningful for me, and I know it was very meaningful for a lot of employees, students and members of the community.”
Each Pride Month, Moosman said he and his team encouraged students to take photos on the crosswalks and share what they meant to them.
“People weren’t just posting pictures,” he said. “They were sharing their stories.”
Over the years, those stories helped the crosswalks become one of SLCC’s most visible symbols of allyship.
Moosman said he wasn’t surprised to see the crosswalks painted over because of the closure of the GSSRC and other college and statewide changes he has seen over the last few years.
“It reinforces the feeling that we’re being put back in the closet,” he said. “We’re being pushed back into the shadows.”
The crosswalk was about much more than paint. It represented the SLCC I once knew — a simple message letting queer students know they were welcome and safe. Painting over it sends a message, too.
Kim — can you explain what it would mean to, “[…]run out of colors.”? My concern is that you might just be echoing a trope that you might not actually agree with in your reflective heart-of-hearts and quieter moments. Maybe it would be helpful to ask the people who changed the paint why they felt it was important to change the paint. The sentiment that we don’t need to force our own opinions or tastes on each other is another great idea. Maybe this article can prompt people from the default of seeing something on social media to reposting. Maybe this can help us stop echoing the same point from the talking heads dividing our nation to reflect a little more, and take the next step to a more understanding direction, such as “I’m not [gay or other outsider] but I have friends who are.” That might not be the end of our journey, but only a better start where we do show a little more compassion for the feelings and opinions of others. Together we can do better day-by-day.
If we painted cross walks colors for every group for every reason, we’d run out of colors. Did anyone consider the average person’s feelings or opinions? Don’t expect everyone else to rearrange their lives to make you comfortable. We know who you are & we don’t need rainbow crosswalks, flags or anything else to remind us. We don’t shove colors & flags etc in your face, you could give us the same courtesy.
–“Don’t expect everyone else to rearrange their lives to make you comfortable. We know who you are & we don’t need rainbow crosswalks, flags or anything else to remind us.”
Girl, let’s be real. Apart from bigots, these crosswalks did not objectively inconvenience anyone, and that includes whoever laid down the paint, as the school undoubtedly paid them for their time.
The school was simply expressing solidarity with and offering representation for the queer community, which has — I hope this is not news for you — historically faced marginalization, violently at times. Something like the 2016 shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando does not happen in a vacuum, and actions like painting these sidewalks can spark conversations and change attitudes. And yes, these actions also help queer folk feel more comfortable, which isn’t a bad thing considering what I just mentioned. If intentional LGBTQ representation still sounds dubious to you, consider some self-reflection.
And lastly — “We don’t shove colors & flags etc in your face, you could give us the same courtesy.”
Straight people do not have any colors or flags to display because they’ve never had to unify against any form of oppression.
Excellent op ed. I felt grieved when our rainbow was turned to black and white judgement. Now at least I don’t feel so alone with that grief.
I concur your sentiments. I had no idea that the crosswalk was painted over, why would we as a group be okay with something once colorful replaced with white blandness. I appreciate you covering this for all of us. My hope is that SLCC had to change it and not that they went out of their way to change a part of the street. One could argue the colorful crosswalk makes it more effective.
I welcome all people and it is important to be kind and accepting of everyone. However, I don’t appreciate the “in your face” of the pride rainbow or any other symbol forced in public places at public expense.
SLCC complies with fascism. That’s the message they’re sending.