Crosswalk Controversy: Salisbury PFLAG pushes to keep rainbow crosswalk downtown

SALISBURY, Md. – Members from Salisbury PFLAG are fed up; officials said the rainbow crosswalk is too important to the community to just disappear.

The organization had plans to gather volunteers to repaint the crossing on October 12th, but executive director, Mark DeLancey, said it’s been radio silence on Mayor Randy Taylor’s end since July 10th, when they asked for clarification about the painting plans.

“A lot of people are frustrated, a lot of people are very angry, and up until now, we’ve kept a good lid on trying to keep the tempers at bay, trying to keep peoples’ anger at a minimum, but this is getting to a point now where it’s turning into a deliberate action,” DeLancey said.

In a statement to WMDT, Mayor Taylor said in part quote, “…Beginning in the Summer/2025, the City will be soliciting proposals as this will be known as the “Arts Corner” to be repainted in the Fall/2025.”

PFLAG president, Lisa Taylor, said this is a slap in the face to the organization.

“The frustration is, we’re supposed to be by Unity Square at unity park, yet there’s no unity and that’s really disappointing,” Taylor said.

While PFLAG will be able to repaint the crosswalk at least once more, DeLancey said this is a temporary fix to a bigger problem, and keeping this piece of art in the heart of Salisbury helps send an important message to the LGBTQ community.

“It shows the community that we are inclusive, and it shows the whole community that they can be part of a larger community and be themselves and feel the safety of being able to be inclusive,” DeLancey said.