That’s the hilarity of the uproar about the rainbow buffalo. While as adults we understand the pride symbolism, I don’t think a 3 year old gets it, they just see a pretty buffalo. And if they ask, it would be a great opportunity for a parent to explain the symbolism. Not just about pride, but the native signifigance of the buffalo.
I think this parent said it best with a FB comment;
Mike Henriksen
June 22 at 8:10 PM
So, the lady who directs the Outdoor Campus in Sioux Falls crafted a buffalo with rainbow colors for Pride week. A Mom complained, saying it was promoting homosexuality to her 3 year old child. The Mom called the Governor’s office. The buffalo was taken down. I don’t want to tell anyone how to spend their outrage. But I would think having a 3 year old in one of 6 states that does not fund pre-school education would spark a call to the Governor’s office. I would think that having a 3 year old in a state that has one of the highest rates of child and teen deaths in the country might inspire a call to the Governor’s office. I think having a 3 year old in a state that spends less money educating each student than almost every other state in the country might want to make you pick up the phone to the Governor’s office. I think having a 3 year old in a state with one of the highest teen suicide rates in the country might make your fingers do the walking to the Governor’s office. But she decided to call about a pretty buffalo. Something that was meant to promote inclusion. It seems strange to me how some people choose to fight harder for or against symbols than they fight for or against actual human beings.