Tiny picturesque town Littleton, NH, tears itself apart over ‘subversive messaging’ in LGBT murals painted on the side of a main street apartments: ‘I don’t want them here’

A New Hampshire town seemingly tore itself apart over an LGBT mural, causing residents to question their values one senator expressed concern about its contents.

The murals in Littleton were painted last year and depict scenes of colorful trees among stars and flowers, one of which appears to be a dandelion. A local nonprofit that had them installed said they were intended to “beautify blighted properties” and promote a more welcoming environment.

However, State Senator and City Clerk Carrie Gendreau expressed concerns about the contents because one of them contained a rainbow.

Addressing a local meeting about the murals last year, she told board members:We have to be very careful and have called on residents to investigate what the mural really means. I don’t want this to happen in our city.’

After the news spread through the town, which has a population of about 6,000, locals had mixed opinions about the reactions.

Kerri Harrington, an acupuncturist who had respected Gendreau’s views, told the New York Times, “I knew our politics were different, I knew they were religious, but there are a lot of religious people here. This was the first time I realized she had that agenda.”

Harrington had helped set up North Country Pride, which planned and paid for the mural.

The nonprofit was founded in 2020 to build more visible support for the region’s LGBT community.

After approaching Gendreau to talk about the mural, she said the senator urged her to read “The Return of the Gods” by Jonathan Cahn.

Cahn, a doomsday evangelist and best-selling author, warns of America’s decline into evil and says gay rights are an example of decline.

Harrington said she had read the book and could understand why Gendreau was upset, but she worried about what might happen next.

The residents of Littleton had until then lived their lives in harmony despite their political differences, but this caused division in the community.

Gendreau, an evangelical Christian, told the station she was receiving calls from all over the world, including Australia, as people challenged 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 she first criticized the mural, she knew most people wouldn’t understand it. She said that the iris was a dangerous symbol because Iris was the Greek goddess of the rainbow and that children needed to be protected from demonic forces.

“We only understand God’s word when we have the spirit of God within us,” she said. “They don’t get it, and I understand that.”

Gendreau had occasionally used her confidence in her politics, telling former city manager Jim Gleason, when he was tough, “God wants you in Littleton.”

After three years in the role, Gleason resigned earlier this year following Gendreau’s comments about the mural. Citing a “toxic work environment,” he said the comments were hurtful after his gay son Patrick died of pancreatitis at the age of 35.

Shortly after Gendreau made the comments, residents began flooding the local newspaper with letters from angry readers.

A local savings bank also asked Gendreau to resign from its board of directors because of the “pain” she 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. The comments are not representative of what the bank stands for.’

Locals waited with bated breath, hoping she would apologize for her comments or resign. Much to their surprise, she went into an interview last October with The Boston Sphere.

In it, she labeled homosexuality an “abomination,” adding that she saw “distorted preferences creeping into our community.”

She was also a guest at a local musical held at the Littleton Opera House by a theater group featuring a gay couple. The theater group had made the building its home for ten years and considered renovating it with grant money.

After the controversy, they decided to build a new theater instead for fear of censorship.

While most of the town seemed to oppose her views, a woman walked into City Hall and echoed Gendreau’s sentiments.

She asked what should be done with the theater production and asked for it to be stopped.

Gleason recounted the times he reminded the woman that the piece was protected by the First Amendment.

When the woman replied, “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 his late son Patrick.

Supporters like the woman began defending Gendreau and calling out those who tried to silence her.

Nick DeMayo, chairman of the Northern Grafton County Republican Committee, said, “Sen. Gendreau speaks on behalf of stakeholders who are afraid to speak out to stop this “liberal-progressive-socialist-communist bullying.”

While Roger Emerson, then chairman of the city council, heard from stakeholders who shared her views.

Emerson said they feared being attacked, but privately cheered her on from the sidelines.

He said: ‘It used to be that if someone said something you didn’t like, you sat down and talked about it. Don’t run to the newspapers and social media.’

Peggy Fujwara, who knew Gendreau as a fellow Christian, told a board meeting that “[Gendreau] has been dragged through the fire for her beliefs, and I think that’s wrong.”

After the incident in which the woman made comments to Gleason, Gendreau said she urged the woman to apologize to him.

As people stood up at gatherings and cursed 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 look into my heart, they would see absolute compassion.”

History teacher Richard Alberini said he was shocked to learn of her views: “I taught Carrie the Constitution in eighth grade.

“I taught her the separation of church and state, and the reason for that in the history of the country.”

While Duane Coute, who has also known her for years, said he was stunned after she stated her views.

Coute rallied more than 1,000 businesspeople, residents and visitors to sign a letter asking the board to “step back from this painful path.”

It said: ‘This is not who we are. Littleton is a vibrant, broad and inclusive community.”

After Gleason took his final stance against her comments before resigning, Gendreau said at a meeting, “If a man can be a woman because he feels that way.

‘Where does this end? Can a grown man go to kindergarten because he identifies as a six-year-old?”

The Times reported that people left the meeting shouting “shame on you, Carrie.”

Gendreau decided not to seek re-election because God did not want her to remain on the board.

Her seat was subsequently won by Harrington, with the townspeople voting to expand the board to add diversity.

Gendreau said she had no regrets: “I’d rather speak out and risk prosecution than say nothing and see people end up in hell.”