Town of Montague won't raise any flags, including Pride

P.E.I. Pride week begins next week, and several towns and communities will be raising Pride flags as part of the celebrations.

A man who grew up in Montague was disappointed to discover that the town will not be among those flying the rainbow flag. 

"I just was blown away," said Jeffrey Haight. 

Haight contacted the Town of Montague and spoke with chief administrative officer Andrew Daggett. 

Haight said he was surprised to learn that the town won't fly any flags at all.

Council voted not to fly any flags 

Daggett confirmed that last fall council voted on a policy not to fly any flags. 

"Basically, it just seemed like the only thing that comes out of flying any emblem or symbol or anything for any group is it just creates divisiveness. It just seems like there's people on both sides of it, and it just seems to create a fight," Daggett said.

Haight said he thought the Pride flag upsetting some people, doesn't mean it shouldn't be flown. 

"Controversy makes conversations, which causes understanding and verbal connections, and learning about other people's cultures and who they are. It's a form of opening up the eyes of people," said Haight.

'We're staying out of it'

Daggett insisted that it wasn't the role of the government to make decisions about what causes to support. 

"We've got a mandate to provide services. Streetlights, sidewalks, things of that nature. Water and sewer. And we just don't have the staffing, the time, the energy, or the financing to be dealing with other issues," said Daggett. 

"We don't fly any flags, or make any declarations or anything of that nature. We're staying out of it."

As an example, Daggett mentioned a hypothetical situation where pro-choice and pro-life groups both want to raise flags supporting their causes.

"How do you decide?" said Daggett.

A sense of support 

But Haight said the issue of choosing flags to raise really shouldn't be so complicated. In this case, Haight said the Pride flag shows support for the LGBT community. 

"If you put the gay Pride flag up, a young person like myself, who grew up in that town, which was horrible to grow up as a gay kid in that town; that would show a sense of support for them."

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