Rutland County Council Steps Up After Oakham Town Council Limits LGBT Flag Display for LGBT History Month
By The Local Democracy Reporter
In a swift response to local disappointment, Rutland County Council (RCC) has stepped in to ensure the LGBT flag flies prominently in Oakham throughout February. The move comes after Oakham Town Council (OTC) sparked backlash with a decision described by critics as "daft."
The controversy began when Oakham Town Council voted to amend a proposal regarding the flying of the flag at Cutts Close. While Councillors Martin Brookes and Sally-Anne Wadsworth initially sought a more extensive display for LGBT+ History Month, the council ultimately decided the flag would only be hoisted on the first and last days of the month.
Cllr Brookes expressed his frustration with the outcome, noting that while he must respect the democratic decision of the chamber, the result was "disappointing."
The decision by the Town Council did not sit well with Oakham’s LGBT+ community. Following discussions with Hannah, the organiser of Oakham Pride, Cllr Brookes escalated the matter to the unitary authority.
In a significant win for local campaigners, Rutland County Council agreed to fly the flag in a high-visibility location: outside the Rutland County Library.
"I am pleased and thank Rutland County Council, they recognise how important LGBT History Month is to the community," Cllr Brookes said. "Very shortly after speaking to Oakham Pride, I decided to write to the County Council, and I am pleased to say they agreed to fly the flag in a prominent place."
LGBT+ History Month is an annual month-long observance that focuses on the history of gay rights and related civil rights movements.
It aims to promote equality and diversity by making the achievements and contributions of LGBT+ people visible, histories that were often suppressed or ignored in the past.
Flying the flag is a public signal of inclusion. It tells residents and visitors that the county is a safe, welcoming place for everyone, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
February was chosen in the UK to coincide with the 2003 abolition of Section 28, a law that previously prohibited local authorities from "promoting" homosexuality.
The debate over the flagpoles at Cutts Close is far from over. The issue is set to return to Oakham Town Council in approximately six months.
While the Town Council has traditionally flown the flag for the Leicester Pride weekend, Cllr Brookes indicated a pragmatic approach for future requests. "I don’t think I will be asking for the flag to be flown for the entire Pride month,"
For now, however, the rainbow colours will remain a constant fixture outside the library, ensuring the month of February is marked with the visibility the community fought for.
.jpg)
No comments:
Post a Comment
🎉 Comments Are Now Live! 🎉
Hello, Oakham and Rutland readers!
We have some exciting news to share with you: you can now comment directly on every single article on Oakham and Rutland News!
We're absolutely thrilled to be giving our amazing communities a real, active voice.
We know many towns often feel forgotten by big-name and regional media, but our mission at Oakham and Rutland News is to put local people back at the very heart of the conversation.
Now, it's easier than ever to tell us what matters most to you in your town or village, share your thoughts on local news, and connect with your neighbours. Leaving a comment is simple—just scroll down to the bottom of any article!
To keep things friendly and ensure real people are talking (not those pesky bots or fake accounts!), we kindly ask that you register with Google first.
Finally, we'll be keeping a close eye on the discussions to make sure they stay respectful and free from any bad language or abuse. This is all part of our commitment to high-quality, original local journalism that everyone can enjoy.
We truly can't wait to hear what you have to say. Your voice matters to us. Let's take Oakham and Rutland News to the next level, together!