By Andy Spearman
The refusal yesterday by Louth County Council Chief Executive Joan Martin to answer questions from Councillor Joanna Byrne and others on the installation of a temporary rainbow crossing in Drogheda during the upcoming Pride Festival has caused much anger and disappointment in the local LGBTQ community.
A public petition was initiated overnight seeking support for the rainbow crossing and asking Louth County Council to deliver on their promise and it has attracted almost 100 signatures already.
Peter Nugent, the Manager of the Drogheda LGBTQI Support Group and organiser of Drogheda Pride, said that he will present the petition to Joan Martin personally.
Peter told Drogheda Life this morning that he was devastated when he read about the Chief Executive’s behaviour which prompted a majority of the Councillors present to stage a walk out in protest.
“I really don’t know what’s going on” Peter said. “We asked for permission to install the rainbow crossing just like LGBTQ groups have done in many towns and cities elsewhere in Ireland have done. To be honest I can’t understand what all the fuss is about.”
“Is it just homophobia or is it that they have something against the Drogheda LGBTQ group?” he asked. “It is making Drogheda look very bad and non-inclusive” he added.
“I know it’s not the Councillors and I don’t know if she (Joan Martin) has anything against the Gay Community, but I do know that the Drogheda Pride will definitely go ahead.”
He said that there are so many ways the problems raised by the Council could have been overcome but there had been no dialogue.
Louth County Council officials have been against the idea of a rainbow crossing ever since Councillor Joanna Byrne raised the possibility at a meeting of the Drogheda District Borough last March.
Their response at the time was short and very blunt: “The Council will not be providing the markings as requested as all crossings are installed using solely the standards set out in the Roads Traffic (Signs) Regulations.”
Director of Services Paddy Donnelly said that the Council does support Pride and are happy to fly the Pride flag every year on civic buildings which they have done again this year.
But there was never any real dialogue with either Councillor Byrne or the Pride organisers and Councillor Byrne accused officials of refusing to even explore ideas like this which she said is turning a back on the LGBTQ community and asked the Council to reconsider.
Peter Nugent said that he had received over 200 message overnight from members of LGBT community and others about yesterday’s development.
“The Council’s attitude is so disappointing” he said. “We have worked so hard to make Drogheda and district a more inclusive society. I just can’t understand the total lack of correspondence.”
He pointed out that, despite Drogheda being let slip to the position of Ireland’s dirtiest town, they had still managed to attract a lot of people for the Pride Parade and that nearly all the local hotels are full for that weekend.
“To be honest I don’t understand what is going on but it has only strengthened our resolve to make Drogheda Pride 2022 bigger and better than ever.”
CLICK HERE IF YOU’D LIKE TO SIGN THE PETITION
Read our previos article:
Councillors walk out of meeting in row over rainbow crossing for Drogheda Pride
