Crosswalk Controversy: Will the rainbow crosswalk stay?

SALISBURY, Md. – It’s been almost a year of back-and-forth between Salisbury Mayor Randy Taylor, and the LGBTQ community and its allies, over the fate of the downtown rainbow crosswalk.

Mayor Taylor wants to open up the intersection for other artists to potentially bring their work to it, while executive director of Salisbury PFLAG, Mark DeLancey wants to see the original design stay.

“A crosswalk that has existed for over seven years cannot just be simply erased because Randy Taylor decided that he wants to do something, that wasn’t even passed by anybody,” said DeLancey.

On Monday, Mayor Taylor announced the application for artists to submit designs proposals was open.

In less than 24 hours, Salisbury PFLAG organized a demonstration outside of the Mayor’s office. DeLancey said the group was firm in the message they were sending.

“I hope he’s watching; I hope he’s watching, and I hope he’s uncomfortable,” said DeLancey.

“I hope he does a lot of introspect and a lot of reflection to realize what he’s doing does not garner support by any of the people, and he was voted in to be a representative of all the community members, not just his small little group,” DeLancey added.

But Mayor Taylor said this issue isn’t just black and white.

“I think it’s really easy to kind of convert the message I’m sending as an anti-gay thing,” said Mayor Taylor. “It has absolutely nothing to do with that. We’re certainly supportive of them having the Pride Month, and we’re willing to provide whatever resources for that event, but it’s just simply going in a different direction, and a more broad community support.”

The future of the crosswalk may be up in the air, but those upset by the decision, like KT Tuminello, are trying to level with community members, and the city, to keep the integrity of the current design.

“If you care about culture, and you care about this city and the people who live in it, you will email the mayor, professionally and politely, and tell him to stop this nonsense,” said Tuminello.