The mayor of a Long Island village removed Pride flags from the area after they competed with flags honoring veterans.
Northport Mayor Donna Koch said the Pride flags were removed after they were displayed above “Hometown Heroes” banners.
“I had the Pride flags removed. It had nothing to do with my feelings about the Pride community. I support them 100%. I also support our veterans,” said Northport Mayor Donna Koch, as per CBS News.
In a letter to the board of the village, American Legion Commander William McKenna said the Pride flags themselves were not an issue, but their placement was a concern. “The concern being expressed is not at the pride flags themselves, nor is it intended to diminish the importance of recognizing any group within our community,” the letter, reported by ABC’s Eyewitness News, read. “Rather, many veterans and families feel that placing another banner above the veterans’ banners diminishes the recognition and prominence that was originally intended for those who served our country.”
Army veteran Bruce Adams noted, “The American flag should be superior to all other items. I looked up and saw my lamp post bare.”
Local resident Angel Deleva added similarly stated, “Pride flags should not be above our veterans because they risked their lives for us.”
Others believe the lack of recognition for Pride is “offensive.”
“It’s very offensive. We love and support our vets, but the Hometown Heroes program was apparently given the rights to these lamp posts from May to November, which is the entire outdoor season, and that doesn’t leave room for other community members,” said Jeff Cusick, the Treasurer of Northport Pride Fest. “We believe it’s a point to leverage patriotism for discrimination against us.”
