After nothing but support and excitement following the go-ahead to paint a bench on Main Street in rainbow colours to celebrate the local Pride movement, a local woman is not happy about the decision by Moose Jaw City Council.

Council gave MJ Pride the approval needed to paint the bench in July with Executive Director Joe Wickenhauser explaining they wanted something other than a crosswalk, like communities across the country were doing.

"Specifically what they call buddy benches and these buddy benches are typically considered to help to build communities and address bullying. Often, when someone comes and sits on these buddy benches another person may come and check in on them to see if they're doing okay," explained Wickenhauser at the meeting last month.

"Our committee felt like this was a great idea and also a good alternative to some of the rainbow crosswalks that we've been seeing. (It's) a very popular idea, we felt that Moose Jaw could do something a little bit more unique."

While the project has gone over well in the community, Aleta Jorgenson was not pleased to see the change and asked councillors for the bench to be re-painted the standard green or relocated to a park.

"The reason that I request that is that I'm a history buff," said Jorgenson. "I think it was in 1893, there was a monumental decision that was made... any buildings that were constructed were to be made from brick and stone. We have an amazing tourist industry as a result of that one decision."

"I'm emphasizing historic here because we have a broken link in our chain of history now. We want to try to maintain the character and identity of Moose Jaw's history."

Council received the presentation and nothing more, meaning the bench stays unless a councillor comes forward with a motion to have it re-painted at a future council meeting.

It's worth pointing out that the Friendly City was the location of a massive counter-protest in 1978 that drew people from across the prairies. According to an article on the MJ Pride website, the group marched on Main Street to stand against international anti-gay crusader, Anita Bryant. The movement is considered Moose Jaw's first gay rights demonstration.