Video by: Sophia De Guzman
Multimedia by: Madison Schuliakewich
By: Koylan Azofeifa
Rainbow poppy controversy spiraled on Twitter after an attempt to sell them on Ebay in 2019.
The rainbow poppy is suggested to commemorate the LGBTQ+ veterans. Like the red traditional poppy, this poppy was redesigned with each petal a color from the pride flag.
Twitter users have split opinions. Many believe the poppy represents soldiers in general, while others believe the rainbow poppy is necessary to represent those soldiers part of the LGBTQ+ community during WWI.
This is not the first time the idea of the rainbow poppy was brought up. In 2016, a U.K. poet laureate, Trudy Howson began a campaign in honour of LGBTQ+ soldiers.
“I don’t think you should play around with certain things like [the poppy],” said Tyler Oliveira, a Resto Bar barista.
There is no movement from the LGBTQ+ community promoting these poppies.
Military veteran, Allen Swayze says he would get a rainbow poppy to see and learn the meaning behind this poppy.
In Canada the rainbow poppies are not being sold or in mass production, the red poppy remains the national symbol of remembrance.
The U.K. based seller has taken down the listing while requesting people to stop sending hate messages.
History of the poppy
The poppy has become a universal symbol of remembrance, it has been used for hundreds of years.
Do you know how it has become so symbolic? Find out through this timeline.
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