A New Hampshire town apparently fell apart over an LGBT mural that left residents questioning their values afterward. one state senator expressed concern about its content.
The murals in Littleton were installed last year and depict scenes of colorful trees among stars and flowers, one of which appears to be a dandelion. A local nonprofit that installed them said their goal was to “beautify blighted properties” and promote a more welcoming environment.
However, state senator and city councilwoman Carrie Gendreau expressed concern about the content, because one of them had a rainbow on it.
At a local meeting about the murals last year, he told board members: ‘We have to be very careful,’ and urged residents to ‘investigate what the mural really means.’ I don’t want that to happen in our city.
After word spread throughout the city, which has a population of about 6,000 people, locals had mixed opinions about the comments.
A New Hampshire town apparently fell apart over an LGBT mural that left residents questioning their values after a state senator raised concerns about its content.
State Senator and City Councilwoman Carrie Gendreau expressed concern about the content of the mural, since one of them featured a rainbow.
A local nonprofit that installed them said their goal was to “beautify blighted properties” and promote a more welcoming environment.
Kerri Harrington, an acupuncturist who had respected Gendreau’s views, told the New York Times: “I knew our politics were different, I knew she was religious, but there are a lot of religious people here.” This was the first time I realized she had that agenda.
Harrington had helped start North Country Pride, which planned and paid for the mural.
The nonprofit was founded in 2020 to create more visible support for the LGBT community in the region.
After approaching Gendreau to talk about the mural, she said the state senator urged her to read ‘The Return of the Gods’ by Jonathan Cahn.
Cahn, an apocalyptic evangelist and best-selling author, warns of America’s decline toward evil and calls gay rights an example of decadence.
Harrington said she read the book and could understand why Gendreau was upset, but it left her worried about what might happen next.
Littleton residents until then had lived their lives in harmony despite their political differences, but this caused a divide in the community.
The murals in Littleton were installed last year and depict scenes of colorful trees among stars and flowers, one of which appears to be a dandelion.
Kerri Harrington (second from right) helped start North Country Pride, which planned and paid for the mural.
Gendreau, who is an evangelical Christian, told the outlet that she received calls from all over the world, including Australia, as people denounced her views.
‘I told them: “I hope God opens your vision.” I told them, ‘I love you and I don’t want to fight back,'” Gendreau told the outlet.
Gendreau said when he first criticized the mural he knew most people wouldn’t understand it. He said that the iris was a dangerous symbol because it was the Greek goddess of the rainbow and that children needed protection from demonic forces.
“We only understand the word of God when we have the Spirit of God in us,” he said. “They don’t understand it and I understand it.”
Gendreau had occasionally used his faith in his politics, telling former City Manager Jim Gleason, when he was being tough, that “God wants you in Littleton.”
After three years on the job, Gleason resigned earlier this year after Gendreau’s comments about the mural. Citing a “toxic work environment,” he said the comments made were hurtful after his gay son Patrick died at age 35 of pancreatitis.
Shortly after Gendreau made the comments, residents began flooding the local newspaper with letters from angry readers.
A local savings bank also called on Gendreau to resign from its board of directors over the “damage” he had caused.
Woodsville Guaranty Savings Bank said in a statement: ‘At Woodsville Guaranty Savings Bank, everyone is welcome and everyone belongs.
‘We want you to know that we really understand you. The comments are not representative of what the bank stands for.’
Jim Gleason, seen here, resigned from his position citing hurtful anti-LGBTQ comments
Locals waited with bated breath hoping she would apologize for her comments or resign. To her surprise, she doubled down in an interview last October with The Boston Globe.
In it, he called homosexuality an “abomination” and added that he saw “twisted preferences invading our community.”
He also attacked a local musical being performed at the Littleton Opera House by a theater group featuring a gay couple. The theater company had made the building its home for a decade and had considered renovating it with grant money.
After the controversy, they decided to build a new theater for fear of being censored.
While most of the city seemed against his views, one woman walked into city hall and echoed Gendreau’s sentiments.
He asked what could be done with the theater production and asked that it stop.
Gleason told the Times that he reminded the woman that the work was protected by the First Amendment.
When the woman responded, “What about my freedom of speech?” he replied, “The way you protest is: don’t buy a ticket.”
According to Gleason, the woman called him “weak” and then brought up her dead son, Patrick.
Supporters like the woman began to come to Gendreau’s defense, denouncing those who were trying to silence her.
Nick DeMayo, chairman of the North Grafton County Republican Committee, said: ‘Sen. Gendreau speaks on behalf of those stakeholders who are afraid to speak out, to stop this ‘liberal-progressive-socialist-communist-bullyism’.
While Roger Emerson, then chairman of the city’s select board, listened to interested parties who shared his views.
Emerson said they feared being attacked, but had been privately cheering her on from the sidelines.
He said: ‘Before, when someone said something you didn’t like, you sat down and talked about it. Do not run to the newspapers and social networks.
State Senator and City Councilwoman Carrie Gendreau said she believes homosexuality is an abomination.
Peggy Fujwara, who knew Gendreau as a fellow Christian, said at a board meeting that “(Gendreau) has been dragged into the fire for her beliefs, and I think that’s wrong.”
Following the incident in which the woman made comments to Gleason, Gendreau said he urged the woman to apologize to him.
As people stood up at meetings and rebuked her, she told The Times that she wrote down each of their names and then prayed for them that God would show them the truth. She said: “If people could see into my heart, they would see absolute compassion.”
History teacher Richard Alberini said he was taken aback to learn of her views, saying, “I taught Carrie the Constitution in eighth grade.
“I taught him the separation of Church and State, and the reason for it in the history of the country.”
While Duane Coute, who has also known her for years, said he was taken aback after she described her views to him.
Coute gathered more than 1,000 business owners, residents and visitors to sign a letter asking the board to “turn away from this painful path.”
Gendreau said he doesn’t regret speaking out about the mural: “I would rather speak out and risk persecution than say nothing and see people end up in hell.”
He said: ‘This is not who we are. “Littleton is a vibrant, broad and inclusive community.”
After Gleason made his final decision against her comments before resigning, Gendreau said in a meeting: “If a man can be a woman because he feels like one.
‘Where does this end? Can an adult man attend kindergarten because he identifies as a 6-year-old boy?
The Times reported that people left the meeting shouting “shame on you, Carrie” as they did so.
Gendreau decided not to run for re-election, concluding that God did not want her to remain on the board.
Harrington then won his seat and the townspeople voted to expand the board to add diversity.
Gendreau said he has no regrets: “I would rather speak out and risk persecution than say nothing and see people end up in hell.”