Staff report
At 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 2, a crew from Awesome Graphics hung a gigantic “All Are Welcome Here” banner on the front of Rutland Regional Medical Center, just under the hospital’s logo.
“This is about championing messages that support diversity, equality, and inclusion,” said Claudio Fort, president & CEO of Rutland Regional Medical Center. “It is so very important that we telegraph that as part of this community, and as a hospital, we value diversity, equity and inclusion for our patients, for our employees and for all our community members. The banner serves as a reminder to us all that everyone who comes to us for care or to work should be accepted for who they are and treated with the dignity and respect that we all deserve.”
June is Pride Month and in support of the recent efforts initiated by Rutland native Avery Provin, along with Downtown Rutland Partnership, I Love Rutland, Social Tinkering, Queer Connect Rutland, Project Vision and others, Rutland Regional Medical Center now displays a giant 40’ x 10’ banner on its building.
“Great job to everyone involved with this project! Inclusion and diversity should be the most basic of a community’s values. Happy to see Rutland moving forward with these in mind,” wrote Gideon Fetterolf on a GoFundMe site dedicated to raising awareness of the cause through signage downtown.
“I want everyone to feel welcome and accepted, to share there voice, to honor those who have fought and still fight for being themselves and their rights. No one should ever have to hide who they are,” Emily Ferraro added.
As of Monday, June 7, the site had raised $5,290 of its $8,000 goal. Organizer Jeanette Langston posted that that was enough to hit the first tier goal to pay for 20 pole banners for downtown and 2,000 stickers. The tier two goal is 1,000 yard signs.
