An Alberta mayor says his town’s vote to ban Pride and other flags and crosswalks from public property reflects democracy in action.
Residents of Barrhead, Alta., voted in support of a bylaw that effectively bans decorative flags and crosswalks, like those recognizing the LGBTQ2 community, from municipal property.
The bylaw was drafted after a petition signed by more than 700 people called for neutrality among town councillors.
Mayor Dave McKenzie says council responded to the petition by giving residents a chance to voice their opinions and that roughly one-third of eligible voters did so in Monday’s vote.
The town has said council will now go forward with second and third readings of the so-called “Neutral Spaces Bylaw” and that it will soon remove existing crosswalks or flags, including a Pride crosswalk, the Royal Canadian Legion flag and the Treaty 6 flag.
The Town of Westlock passed a similar bylaw in February after it was argued that governments should not promote some groups over others.
