PRIDE month runs throughout June and many towns up and down the country are flying the Pride flag but where is Calne's flag?
A simple request from a member of the public for the Pride flag to be flown in Calne town has caused a difference of opinion amongst councillors.
Pride month - is a month dedicated to celebrating LGBTQ+ communities all around the world. Pride month has been celebrated in the UK for the past 50 years, it is a way to show solidarity with the community, who have suffered persecution and discrimination throughout history.
Whilst the majority of Councillors had no problem with the proposal, some of the responses to the request have left Cllr Robert Merrick flabbergasted.
Flags are flown in Calne above the Town Hall and also in the town gardens but in response to the request, Calne Town Mayor Tony Trotman's said: "I have just raised the Royal British Legion flag on the town garden flagpole this morning and I am not prepared to take down the Ukrainian or the Union flag to make way for the Pride flag in this position.
"There are significant days when the Pride flag could be flown but this is not the time for it to be flown on the Town Hall or the flag poles."
Another response to the request from Cllr Tom Rounds read: "Could we have the heterosexual flag alongside it please?"
Cllr Merrick told us: "It is not the responsibility of our Mayor to decide who is represented on our flag poles. I am sure the Pride movement in Caine would be most upset to be put aside in this manner."
"Some of the responses on this matter are so backward and in some cases discriminatory and bigoted. It seems that the so called sweep to drive this council forward is failing at every turn and this is a prime example.
"We have to remember the Pride movement are part of this county's democracy the same as anyone else, and they are voters."
Cllr Jon Fisher echoed these thoughts, he told us: "There has been a debate conducted over email and one or two Councillors have shown their lack of solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community.
"This has been hugely disappointing. I will be asking the Council to put on some Equality, Diversity and Inclusion training for Councillors and staff as a priority. In my opinion we should fly the rainbow flag during Pride month."
Outgoing Mayor, Cllr Rich Jones added: "I’m quite annoyed about some comments made, I fully support the idea to fly the Pride flag ."
Deputy Mayor, Cllr Brent Slater told us that he intends to use this debate as an opportunity to instigate some changes in the way Calne flags mark occasions and events for the future, he said: "I fully support the flying of a Pride flag for Pride Month, it’s something that we should already have been doing.
"I believe that the council should be fully inclusive and represent all of all of our residents. I would like to see us ahead on this next year and have the flag ready to go up at the start of Pride month and we should also mark other occasions and events that are important to our residents as we have done in flying Ukraine’s flag.
"I have suggested we have a formal calendar of events that we mark and when appropriate flags will go up."
Cllr Declan Boore deemed some of the comments made as 'incredibly offensive' and 'frankly rude' adding "I don't see what the issue is with flying the Pride flag and being inclusive of all our residents in the town surely this can only be a good thing?
"We have only been asked to put up a flag if this is the over reaction to a simple request for inclusion and support I absolutely dread to think what would happen if residents asked us to put on a Pride festival like most towns do for their residents."
Calne News has been told today that the Director of Council Services has confirmed that the request for flying the Pride flag has been 'supported by all councillors' but 'there have been some discussions about where is best to fly it'.
