As Norfolk County awaits the installation of a rainbow crosswalk, other communities are getting rid of Pride flags altogether.
Norwich Township council met late last month and decided only government flags will be flown on municipal property in a 3-2 vote on the matter.
The idea to remove Pride flags from municipal property came following a series of incidents in the community last year.
A Tillsonburg man and teen were originally charged after several flags were either stolen or vandalized, but charges were later dropped.
This decision has sparked debate, and has led to the Oxford County Pride filing a complaint to the Ontario Human Rights Commission, CBC reports.
Waterford Councillor Kim Huffman took to Twitter earlier this week asking residents not to call her if they’re going to ask her to ban Pride flags in Norfolk.
The tweet was accompanied with a graphic showing a 2020 study that found 60 per cent of 2SLGBTQIA+ people feel more supported, safe, and welcomed by rural communities and small towns that fly Pride flags.
Norfolk County is not free from vandals targeting those flying Pride flags, however.
In April of 2021 Waterford District High School was the target of thieves when its pride flag went missing. The community came out to show its support with multiple people offering to replace the flag, and other flags being raised around town.
Later that year a flag pole flying the Pride flag at Delhi District Secondary School was cut down.
The rainbow crosswalk, which was fully fundraised for by the group advocating for its installation, is set to be installed in Simcoe at the intersection of Norfolk Street North and Union Street this spring or summer.
Written by Ashley Taylor