Bowmanville’s LGBTQ-friendly rainbow crosswalk was vandalized again in early September — this time the colourful paint was splattered with motor oil.

“It is just disheartening to see these things continue to occur. The motor oil particularly because the children had to walk to school and tiptoe around it,” said Alison Ridding, a Clarington rainbow crosswalk advocate.

“What is positive is the community reaction. You really do see people rally together to get things cleaned up and washed away, not only the motor oil (but) also the homophobia that comes with it.”

Vandalism has been an ongoing issue in the first four months of the brightly-painted rainbow pedestrian crossing — a symbol of support for the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, etc.) community.

“I’m reading online that everyone is welcome in Clarington. Clearly not everyone feels that way,” said Clarington Mayor Adrian Foster. “We persevere. Do you give in to bullies? All that does is empower the bullies.”

This is not the first time the crosswalk has been vandalized. The municipality has spent approximately $2,000 on cleanup of the rainbow crosswalk.

Here is a quick look at the damage and repair of the rainbow crosswalk:

May 21 — The rainbow crosswalk was installed at the intersection of Apple Blossom Blvd. and Mearns Ave.

May 23 — The crosswalk was twice defaced with black streaks from a vehicle’s spinning tires.

May 25 — A derogatory term was scrawled in white spray paint.

June 12 — The graffiti was removed, but the tire marks were too difficult without damaging the paint.

June 13 — A crowd gathered to celebrate the dedication ceremony for Bowmanville’s first rainbow crosswalk.

July 12 — The crosswalk repairs were finished with the complete removal of the tire marks.

Early September — Motor oil was used to vandalize the crosswalk again.

Sept. 10 — A contractor returned to clean the recent bout of vandalism.

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Work is still ongoing to bring more colourful crosswalks to Clarington. The municipality is hoping to partner with the Region of Durham to put a rainbow crosswalk across Liberty St. (a regional road) in front of Bowmanville High School.

“We hope we’ll see another crosswalk soon because these acts of hate clearly illustrate why we need more symbols of LGBTQ acceptance in the community,” Ridding said. “Even though these acts of hate happen, we see acts of love tenfold. I see way more community love and community coming together, then we see these cowards who act in the night.”