London’s only Reform council cancelled their Pride flag ceremony, leaving the borough ‘no longer feeling like home’ for their residents.
Havering Council announced the event would not go ahead with just three days notice on Friday.
This is despite the flag ceremony happening every year at the start of Pride Month in June since 2016.
Carrie Kendall, who has lived in the borough all of her life, said Havering ‘no longer feels like home’.
She said: ‘I always noticed when the pride flag went up as early as 2016 and it made me happy, because visibility is so important.
‘Now I am worried the council’s actions will lead people to think homophobia is permissible.’
‘There’s nothing inclusive about shoving that degeneracy down everyone’s throat’
And the online comments certainly prove this. One person described the flags as ‘divisive symbols’ which should not be flown.
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Another said ‘there’s nothing inclusive about shoving that degeneracy down everyone’s throat.’
The council’s decision came after the Reform Party instructed their councils to not fly any flags apart from the Union Jack or the St George’s Cross.
Council Leader Keith Prince AM told Metro the only other flags they would be willing to fly are those which ‘recognise our heroes like the armed forces’.
Members of the LGBTQ+ in Havering were still able to rally round and organise their own impromptu event to mark the day.
This included people waving the flags as well as speeches and a picnic, which was helped organised by LGBTQ+ youth group Kaleidoscope, which Carrie founded.
‘We can’t change their decision, but we can be more direct with our efforts,’ she said. ‘This is the worst I have seen homophobia in a long time, it all feels very uncertain.’
Mark Whiley, a life-long resident and leader of the Green Party in the area, agrees.
He said he suffered homophobic bullying in school, and has started experiencing it again over the last few years.
‘I had some abuse thrown at me by some young people on a bus last year, which we is why we need to stand up and be visible,’ Mark said.
Council Leader Prince AM said: ‘The Council Administration is updating policies in line with Reform UK national policies on flag flying which sets out that the only flags flown on public buildings are the Union Flag, the St. George’s Cross, and the Havering Council flag.
‘The Union Flag represents our country and as such is inclusive of all our residents. The only other events we will be flying flags for will be to recognise our heroes like the armed forces and veterans who do so much for our country.’
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