Pictou County raises ire with flag restrictions

Pictou County has decided not to fly gay pride flags outside municipal buildings, much to the disappointment of one gay rights advocate.

The council of the Municipality of Pictou County voted 7-6 in favour of a new flag policy Monday night. Only municipal, provincial, national and First Nations flags will be raised.

Until now, the council voted on individual requests from community groups to fly their flags at municipal sites.

Warden Allister MacDonald pushed for the new flag policy, saying it is inclusive and does not discriminate against any one group.

But Jane Morrigan, who runs a gay and lesbian campground, said she wants the warden to resign.

"I am entirely, 100 per cent disappointed and unimpressed with this council," said Morrigan, who spoke at the meeting for about 15 minutes. "We don't have leadership here. We have followers."

Coun. David Parker voted against the policy he said "blatantly discriminated" against gays and lesbians.

The vote in Pictou County came on the heels of a flag controversy in the town of Truro.

Last summer, that council voted against a request from a gay rights group to fly the rainbow-coloured flag to coincide with gay pride activities.