Pride flag will not fly outside Surrey City Hall after council vote
Martin Rooney says the city needs to show it is more inclusive during Surrey Pride Week
The rainbow flag will not be raised outside Surrey City Hall during Surrey Pride Week, after council members voted not to change current flag policy on Monday night.
- Pride flag should fly at Surrey City Hall, says festival organizer
- Learn more about the history of the pride flag
Currently Surrey only displays three flags at city hall: the Canadian, B.C. and Surrey flags, which officials say embrace diversity and inclusiveness.
Councillors reviewed the policy after festival organizer Martin Rooney asked them for a third time to fly the pride flag to show support for Surrey's LGBTQ community.
Rooney, who co-founded the first Surrey Pride Festival in 1999, said flying the rainbow flag would have let LGBTQ people know they are recognized in the community.
"I'm very, very disappointed obviously with the result. This was put into a report where there was no ability for the public to comment on it so there was no public discussion about this."
City officials say Surrey's current flag policy will remain unchanged, but have offered to construct a Surrey Pride exhibit in the foyer of city hall, which can include a flag.
The Surrey Pride Week starts June 28, wrapping up with a festival on July 6 at Holland Park.