"A lot of people are very happy we are doing this," Mayor Ramon Hache said. "I think this will be a true community event that will celebrate Ridgewood’s diversity,”Īlthough the flag-raising in supported, some residents wanted the flag to be raised at the Village Hall and not the park. 22, 2010, after discovering his roommate at Rutgers University secretly recorded him having an intimate encounter with another man. Ridgewood was home to Tyler Clementi, who took his own life on Sept.
This year, the village will install a new flagpole and fly a rainbow flag in Van Neste Square Memorial Park honor of Pride Month. The borough council has said it is standing by their decision to fly the flag. Sales and Bennett are both running for secretary of state in 2020.“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 read. “Rutherford is made of many different groups and it is wrong to favor one special interest group over another or over the entire town.” It's a great symbol of the progress we've made to ensure all Montanans are equal under the law." "It's a simple gesture that means a lot to a community constantly subjected to discrimination and violence. "Flying the pride flag over our Capitol was an important way to let LGBTQ Montanans know they are welcome, wanted, and loved," Bennett, the first openly gay man to serve in the Legislature, said. Bryce Bennett, D-Missoula, supported the governor's decision to fly the Gay Pride flag. However, if the governor "chooses to hold this office while campaigning for President, he must do as all other state elected officials do, and leave his political activism on the campaign trail and off state property," Hertz and Sales said. They said Bullock, as a presidential candidate, was trying to stand out.
"Our state flag is a way we celebrate the rights of all Montanans every day and it should never be off display for political gain," they wrote. Hertz and Senate President Scott Sales, R-Bozeman, released a statement Monday afternoon criticizing the governor, saying taking down the state flag was a sign of disrespect "to our state and the people and institutions we serve."
Patrick’s Day, when the Irish flag is flown in front of the capitol. “It shouldn’t be replaced by any flag,” he said, adding he also disagrees on St. flag - represent many things to many people. flags - A black POW/MIA flag also flies underneath the U.S. Derek Skees, R-Kalispell, told the radio show “Montana Talks” on Monday the two flag poles in front of the capitol which fly the Montana and U.S. "Where does it stop? It’s denigrating to the Montana people to have other people supercede a flag that honors all of us," Gunderson said. He said he appreciated the governor having the Gay Pride flag flown at the capitol. It is no different than celebrating anything else.” Kevin Hamm, president of Big Sky Pride, asked if these same lawmakers complained when the Irish flag flew at the capitol.Īnd his other comment was: “We’re queer, get used to it.
Events included parties, drag shows, hikes, brunches, and an interfaith worship service. Some news reports state nearly 4,000 people attended Saturday’s parade, other news reports estimated the crowd as smaller. The 26th annual Big Sky Pride event, was held in Helena last week as a five-day celebration for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer community. He cannot seek another four years as governor due to term limits. Steve Bullock, a Democratic candidate for president in 2020, was campaigning in New Hampshire on Saturday. "Like the raising of the Irish flag, the raising of the Pride flag is not a political statement, it’s a celebration and recognition of the contributions of LGBTQ+ Montanans to our state’s history and for future generations," Perry said. Patrick's Day, the Montana state flag is lowered and the Irish tri-color has flown in place of the state flag for decades. Steve Bullock, said the governor requested the flag to fly from Friday to Sunday evenings “on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community and in honor of Big Sky Pride.” Marissa Perry, communications director for Gov.