US: Offense over Pride banner could result in Louisiana city limit on types of flags flown
A lawmaker in the city of Lafayette, Louisiana has said he is drafting a proposal to limit the types of flags that can be flown on government property, after being contacted by a military veteran who was offended by an LGBT Pride flag in a park.
City-Parish councilman Andy Naquin was contacted regarding a rainbow flag flown by a gay pride group on 30 June in Girard Park, reports the Sun-Herald.
Mr Naquin said he agreed that the flag should now have been allowed on city property. He is now in the process of drafting a proposal to only allowing government properties to fly American, state, city, and Mardi Gras flags. He said he had not yet discussed the matter with other councillors.
Ray Green, the Korean War veteran who made the complaint, said: “I did not go overseas and fight for our country so that we could come back and be subject to something like that.”
Amanda Kelley of OUTspoken Alliance, a local LGBT group, said Mr Naquin’s proposal “seems like a violation of freedom of speech.”
“[LGBT people] fought for this country, too,” she said. “It was in no way meant to be disrespectful.”
She added that the flag had been flown on 30 June to mark LGBT Pride, and to celebrate the recent Supreme Court decisions on equal marriage.
Mr Green maintained that Pride flags should be allowed, but not on government property.
