SALISBURY, Md.- The City of Salisbury announced it will be painting over its Pride crosswalks at the intersection of South Division Street and West/East Market Street.
Mayor Randy Taylor said this is to ensure ‘neutrality in public spaces’.
“We also have a responsibility to ensure that government property remains neutral and does not promote any particular movement or cause," said Taylor. "It's an opportunity to kind of get away from maybe single issues and look at it as an art project to reflect a more community purpose."
However many pushed back on the plan on the city’s announcement on Facebook. Another strong voice opposing the change is Mark DeLancey, Executive Director of Salisbury PFLAG, (Parents Families and Friends of Lesibans and Gays).
"It's not just an LGBTQ+ crosswalk. It's everybody's crosswalk. Whether you're a Republican or a Democrat it's not a political statement. It's about unity and collaboration and celebrating all diversity of the community."
DeLancey says back in 2018, it was the city that approached PFLAG in 2018 about implementing a community mural, which became the Pride Crosswalks.
"We've maintained this crosswalk faithfully for the past over 7 years now with no taxpayer dollars, all private donations and all private volunteers to make sure that this crosswalk is a representation of the entire community," said DeLancey.
DeLancey says this effort by the mayor discriminates against his own constituents.
"When you eliminate, discriminate, shut down and push people out, it pushes them into a scenario of making sure they will be heard," said DeLancey.
However Mayor Taylor says this is about government neutrality.
"It has nothing to do with anti-PFLAG, it has something to do with remaining neutral at some level and more of a community based and polarizing topic."
The new initiative, ‘The Crosswalk Canvas’ will pay artists a $3,000 stipend for design and implementation. Artists have until June 30th to apply and must be installed by September 14th 2025. The artwork will be displayed for 2 years until a new artwork is selected.