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I imagined buttons and stickers, wrist bands and tee shirts, messages in store windows and on car bumpers.Īnd then it hit me: in reality, the most powerful and authentic symbol each of us projects is our everyday attitude and energy.how open and approachable we are how much we model inclusivity in the people we spend time with, the information we consume, and the lessons we teach our children (by word and by deed) the language we use and the things we talk about - as well as the conversations we choose to shut down.Īs a member of multiple "minority" groups, I can guarantee that people who regularly live outside of the majority get really good at reading subtle signs, sussing out who's 'cool' and who's not, figuring out when we can be ourselves and when we have to put on our masks. I thought about trying to launch an initiative - much like the Rainbow Flag project of years ago - to design a symbol of Universal Inclusion. The Maplewood Rainbow Flag made me reflect on how powerful it would be if each of us who promotes inclusion could project visible symbols to let others know that we are open and welcoming to all people, especially those who might otherwise feel disenfranchised or ignored. But that is another topic for another day. Likewise, when you find yourself among Confederate flags or swastikas (for example), quite the opposite experience occurs - provided your politics are different. And when you're LGBTQ+, you feel even better - affirmed, and in some cases safer! It got me thinking about how powerful visual symbols are, how when you walk down a street or through a neighborhood with Rainbow Flags flying, you know instantly that you're in a progressive, welcoming environment. But apparently installing a permanent rainbow crosswalk is quite rare. I'm not surprised, since Maplewood has a long-standing reputation as a very diverse and inclusive community - not to mention being filled with generally cool, open people. It's Gay Pride Month and I just read that the town of Maplewood, NJ has painted one of their prominent intersections with Rainbow Flag pedestrian crosswalks - not just for Gay Pride, but PERMANENTLY!Ī NJ Town Just Installed Stunning Permanent Rainbow Crosswalks