#Counties in new jersey to fly gay pride flags pro
"Will a pro- or anti-abortion flag be permitted to fly? Will a pro or anti-euthanasia flag be flown? Will a marijuana leaf flag be flown? Will a traditional family values flag or marriage flag receive equal time?" asked Moore. He told the council flying the flag could send a "bullying message" for institutions with different views. Moore's comments were linked to on the Rutherford United petition. These are sensitive and decisive topics in our time." "The pride flag represents positions on sexual morality, behavior and identity. "Flags have meaning, especially when flags are flown by the government," said resident Chris Moore, addressing the council in April. The council voted unanimously on April 8 to raise the pride flag at Borough Hall. (Last year, the Essex County community of Maplewood marked the month by painting rainbow crosswalks.)Ĭreated two weeks ago, the Rutherford United petition had 14 signatures as of Friday.ĭeSalvo said the borough has not been formally presented with a petition opposing the flag-raising. While there was an informal council discussion on the topic, Rutherford has no plans to paint crosswalks for Pride Month, said Mayor Joe DeSalvo. Mayor asks: Does a pride flag set a precedent? “Rutherford is made of many different groups and it is wrong to favor one special interest group over another or over the entire town.” “Will the council now allow any group to repaint a crosswalk or fly a flag? Why is one group given preference over another?” the petition reads. In Rutherford, the online petition, created by Rutherford United, opposes the flag’s inclusion at Borough Hall, saying it will “foster division.” In 2017, Ridgewood opted to fly the flag in a municipal park, after Village Attorney Matthew Rogers said that while there was nothing prohibiting Ridgewood from flying the flag at Village Hall, it could set a bad precedent, forcing the village to fly flags of other types. North Jersey towns such as Glen Rock, Westwood and Rochelle Park have flown the rainbow flag, not always without controversy. Lyons did not respond to invitations to comment “Ultimately, these posters have had the reverse effect, and is amplifying the support that our LGBTQ+ residents of Rutherford have from allies within our town.” “I know this incident today may have brought up various feelings for people within our community and group,” said Rob Lyons of the group Rutherford Pride in a Facebook post. This is first time the flag will be raised at the municipal building. The flag is a symbol of LGBTQ - lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer - pride. Sponsored by Rutherford Pride, the flag-raising ceremony at Borough Hall is scheduled for June 1, the first day of Gay Pride Month.
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A plan to fly the rainbow pride flag next month at Rutherford's Borough Hall has stirred up controversy in the New Jersey town.Īn online petition was launched and flyers have been posted calling for the municipal government to cancel its planned raising of the flag.
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On July 5, the FCO rejected the recommendation from the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, saying: “The FCO has a very clear policy on flag flying: it is to fly the Union Flag at the FCO and all its embassies, high commissions and consulates at all times.” MPs including Labour’s Angela Eagle and Conservative Nigel Evans previously called for a change in the policy.Įvans said it “would send the important signal that we stand by the side of those who are oppressed, and indeed, in some cases, those who fear death for the crime of being born gay”.Įagle said: “We need to redouble our efforts to root out prejudice and discrimination at home and abroad/ The Foreign Secretary’s decision to ban the Pride flag from being flown at UK embassies around the world sends exactly the wrong signal.RUTHERFORD, N.J. The pride flag is already flying at the British Consulate in Amsterdam for Amsterdam Pride. It will be up to the envoys to decide whether they wish to fly the rainbow flag for events. “The Foreign and Commonwealth Office buildings can fly the rainbow flag in order to mark relevant international days such as the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) and locally relevant events, such as local pride celebrations,” an FCO spokesperson told PinkNews. Johnson overturning Hammond’s decision in which he just one month ago rejected a proposal to change the policy, permitted the embassies to fly rainbow flags if they wish. In one of his first policy shifts since coming to office, British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has lifted a ban on gay pride rainbow flags being flown at embassies and high commissions across the world.įormer Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond last year came under fire when he ordered British embassies to abide by a policy that blocks any flag other than the Union Jack being flown, preventing them from flying a rainbow flag for pride, PinkNews reported.