|
The rainbow banners that have graced Davie Village for decades will remain, says the executive director of the West End Business Improvement Association.
Lyn Hellyar said the banners were never at risk of coming down completely, as has been suggested by members of the gay community.
"It was never our plan to take the rainbow flags down, not ever. It was never even spoken about," said Hellyar. "We made a commitment to the gay community a long time ago that we would preserve the identity of the gay village and we meant it."
Hellyar admits the BIA planned to change the placement of the multicoloured banners, but after a huge outcry from gay residents that proposal was scrapped. She said a new banner was designed and initially would have been used by the business improvement association along the streets that border its recently expanded area.
Last April the boundaries surrounding the Davie Village Business Improvement Association expanded west to include the entire length of Davie Street between Burrard and Denman, the entire length of Denman and lower Robson Street to Jervis. The previous boundaries included the two lanes on either side of Davie between Burrard and Broughton streets. The change brings the association's boundaries directly adjacent to the Robson Street BIA.
The new banners will grace the same streets, with the exception of Davie Village. In the initial plan, the association was also going to replace the rainbow banners in the village with the new version, which feature work by local artist Yvonne Hertach. Hellyar said the rainbow banners would have been relocated. While several locations had been considered, none was finalized before the decision was made to leave the rainbow banners in place, Hellyar said.
"We were working on a couple of spots that we thought would give the gay community a higher profile," said Hellyar. "But then we had to do a complete 360 and change the program. All the misinformation out there turned the whole thing into a disaster."
She noted each banner has two panels, one with the new design and a second with one solid colour. "Each of the panels is a different colour and if you look at them in a row along the street, they look like a rainbow," she said.
Hellyar will attend the annual Davie Day event next week. She'll be in the BIA's tent with storyboards and information.
"I really hope the gay community will drop by and talk to me," she said.
Jennifer Breakspear, executive director of The Centre, a resource and support centre for the gay, lesbian and transsexual community, said she's happy the BIA responded to comments from the community.
"There were concerns about keeping the symbol of Pride and identity in the village," said Breakspear. "I think it's important to have a highly visible symbol to mark the queer neighbourhood in Vancouver and I'm pleased they decided to stick with the banners."
Davie Day takes place Sept. 6 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
|
