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In case you missed it, reports from the Caledonian Record and the Boston Globe detail recent updates on the disturbing trend of discrimination in Littleton, N.H., orchestrated by NH GOP State Senator Carrie Gendreau.
The Boston Globe highlighted Sen. Gendreau’s baseless claims of “demonic symbolism” in LGBTQ+ art murals on a private building along Main Street in Littleton, which have prompted fears of a public art ban in the town.
The Caledonian Record highlights a meeting this past Monday flooded by Littleton residents bitterly angry at how Sen. Gendreau’s remarks have begun to alter the reputation of Littleton.
Past reports have quoted Sen. Gendreau referring to homosexuality as an "abomination,” compared gay residents of her district to drug users and equated drag queens with pedophilia.
During a town meeting in September, nearly 200 residents stood up against Gendreau and other board members' prejudiced stance, with a majority supporting the LGBTQ+ community. The outcry led to Gendreau’s resignation from the board of directors of the Woodsville Guaranty Savings Bank, marking a small yet significant rebuke from the community.
The unfolding events shed light on the urgent need to challenge and eradicate bigotry from the corridors of power in Littleton. Read key excerpts here:
Caledonian Record: Residents Blast Gendreau, Board Over Ongoing LGBTQ+ Stance
Residents, though, as they did during a board meeting in September, continue to push back and level criticisms at Carrie Gendreau, as well as at other board members, whom they say are marginalizing the LGBTQ+ community, placing a changing town in a negative light, and costing the town in legal fees.
residents decried Gendreau’s comments in an Oct. 23 Boston Globe interview in which, similar to a Caledonian-Record interview in September, she called homosexuality an “abomination,” said more artwork from the Pride community is creeping into Littleton, and called Theatre UP’s upcoming production of La Cage aux Folles “disgusting.”
Carrie Gendreau looked through the lens of her extremely conservative Christian faith and saw something dark: demonic symbols and, since the paintings were sponsored by North Country Pride, an indication that LGBTQ+ art in town had gone too far.
Now, some local organizations are concerned that the town could do just that, and extend the ban to other forms of public art as well.
He said the town is now seeking legal advice on banning artwork altogether, as it would be illegal to discriminate and only ban artwork about or by LGBTQ people.
“We can’t risk being censored by people who are making a policy based on personal religious beliefs,” she said. “There are only three selectmen on the board, and they all share the same religious views.”
Gendreau said she approaches the issue of the paintings “from a biblical perspective.” She believes “homosexuality is an abomination,” she said, and has grown increasingly disturbed by the pride signs and flags in town.
“I am very concerned about what is basically creeping into our community,” Gendreau said. She said the painting of the iris had “demonic hidden messages” and “demonic symbolism” representing the Mesopotamian goddess Ishtar.
“It’s disgusting,” she said of Theatre UP’s production. She said she finds the depiction of a gay couple offensive, and takes issue with the presence of drag queens and burlesque in the show. She also equated drag queens with pedophilia, a false claim that has become a talking point for right-wing activists.
“We want them to live among us and we want them to not feel marginalized, but stop putting their twisted homosexual preferences in our face,” she told the Globe.
Caledonian Record: Select Board Member Draws Ovation After Opposing Censorship Of Art
Monday’s board meeting at the opera house drew 200 area residents, virtually all members or supporters of the LGBTQ+ community.
Twenty four spoke, nearly all leveling criticisms at Gendreau and some other board members about what they said was their intolerance and about Gendreau pushing her religious beliefs on others.
“This is a public building and I do believe that the voters of Littleton should decide,” said Gendreau. The board voted 3-0 to go forward with the article and present it to voters.