Rule change sparks anger as rainbow flag to no longer fly at Suffolk County Council offices during Pride month
A rule change, which means a council will no longer fly the rainbow flag during Pride month, has sparked anger.
Suffolk County Council has changed its approach over which flags are flown outside its Endeavour House offices, in Russell Road, Ipswich.
In its new approach, the council wants to reflect the traditions and values of the Suffolk community but will not promote political, social, religious, awareness, commercial interests, or advocacy campaigns.
As of May, the authority decided to only fly the Union and county council flags permanently, while making exceptions for Suffolk Day, St Edmund's Day, Armed Forces Day and in response to international incidents.
The Ukrainian national flag will continue outside the council HQ until further notice.
This means, however, the rainbow flag will no longer be flown during Pride month, which had been the case in recent years.
A council spokesman said: “Due to the number of requests we receive and to bring clarity and consistency to our decision-making, we have recently standardised our approach to flying flags on our buildings.
"Flag flying requests will always be considered, but will need to be consistent with this approach.”
The council was asked to fly the Pride flag this year, but concluded it did not fit its new approach.
A staff member, who wished to remain anonymous, said though it may appear as a small issue to some, the decision came at a time when trans people were under attack and homophobia remained 'alive and well'.
They said: "Such simple gestures serve as a reminder that LGBT+ people exist and are welcome here. This is not a controversial notion.
"Refusing to participate in such gestures feels like a clear statement that we are not welcome."
Cllr Andrew Stringer, leader of the main opposition group, said the decision was 'a bit sad' due to the lack of debate.
He said: "As a county council, we should not be timid about flying flags for the communities we support."
Cllr Sandy Martin, the leader of the Labour Group, said it made sense to have a flag-flying policy, but likened the decision to the refusal to fly the rainbow flag at councils controlled by Reform in Durham and Kent.
He said: "This doesn't look like [a policy], this looks like a knee-jerk reaction to the Reform UK attitude to the LGBT community."
The council has said the decision, despite coming ahead of Pride month, was not specific to or targeted the Pride flag.
