Gay pride flag flies at police HQ

by Paul Conneally | February 3, 2009 at 01:22 pm

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North Wales Police are flying the Rainbow flag, symbol of Gay Pride over their headquarters and have immeadiatly been attacked by some for doing so.

The North Wales force are the first police force in Britain to show their support for the gay, lesbian and bisexual community and in particular for gay police officers.

Assistant Chief Constable Ian Shannon said : "Sexuality is a highly emotive and personal matter and I have great respect for those involved with the Gay Police Association who, over the years, have worked selflessly to promote equality within our organisation."

The flag to be hoisted to mark "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual History Month" at North Wales Police, where Richard Brunstrom, the controversial chief constable is in charge.

However anger is growing about flying the flag, and whether special interest groups should be perceived to be favoured by the police.

David Jones, Tory MP for Clwyd West, called it "political tokenism".

He added : "I can't see any reason why any flag other than the Union Flag and the Red Dragon of Wales should fly outside our police headquarters.

"This is tokenism and posturing. People want to see their police force focus on fighting crime, not getting involved in political tokenism and gestures."

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158

at 13:40 on February 3rd, 2009

Thanks for the story.

I have not heard of before of police doing this.

158

at 13:41 on February 3rd, 2009

Thanks for the story.

I have not heard of before of police doing this.

dowdinsk

at 13:41 on February 3rd, 2009

Meanwhile in London more reactionary forces are at work:

NEW Scotland Yard Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson has ordered a gay pride flag hanging outside a police station to be removed and for the original Union flag to be reinstated.

gerrypopplestone

at 18:52 on February 3rd, 2009

I'm not sure what is reactionary about not flying the rainbow flag! It is inappropriate, I think, and so much gesture politics to choose the flag of just one minority group in the country. How about flying the flags of the Romas, Israelis in Britain, Palestinians in Britain, deaf people, British Muslims? And don't forget all the Hong Kong expats here, andflying the Chinese flag out of deference to them. Then, should we not remember the Taiwanese people, and appreciate that they see themselves as separate from China? Oh dear, then should we not recognise the Tibetan flag and the oppression that Tibetans are going through at he hands of the Chinese? And how about, on those days when there are two groups celebrating their identities, getting another flagpole to ensure everyone gets celebrated?

Isn't the job of the police serrvice to carry out their work under the flag of the country for which they serve? Lets keep it that way. Flag poles over official buildings should be demolished anyway!

youngturk

at 19:47 on February 15th, 2009

Too bad you can't say how you really feel without being labeled as a homofobe. It is an affront to many people what they are doing. It would be just as much an affront if they flew a Christian flag to homosexuals, as it would be to blacks if they flew a KKK flag.

Christians don't have rights anymore, and if they speak out, they are picketed, rioted against and threatened with their lives. It is no differen't than Nazi Germany, but with a gay twist.

youngturk

at 19:49 on February 15th, 2009

Oh how terrible that a pro homosexual flag would be replaced by a government flag.

Amy Judd

at 15:36 on February 3rd, 2009

Lovely

lefty_liberated

at 17:21 on February 3rd, 2009

That is wonderful!

sara elizabeth21

at 17:42 on February 3rd, 2009

This was during a Gay Rights rally at SUNY Fredonia in the Fall '08.

sara elizabeth21 has contributed a photo to this story.

Aunti Juli

at 22:45 on February 3rd, 2009

This is the gigantic flag that flies over the Castro neighborhood in San Francisco. Glad to hear about Wales, as acceptance and support are always welcome. As far as subordination to the positions of a token group, the article expressly states it is to acknowledge a recognized group within the police force, so I don't see how it's token.

If they flew a flag representing women's rights during Women's History month, would that imply they value women more than men or place women's rights above men's rights? Or just that they honor the women among them?

Thanks for the chance to share the picture and for letting me know about the story.

cris0405

at 12:51 on February 4th, 2009

It was Nov. 15th of 2008, and it was really cold, but despite everything I noticed hundreds of people come out to support something that mattered to them - Gay Rights. I noticed gay parents with their children, I noticed gay couples, young and older people alike, but one thing that stood out was the number of straight couples and friends that also showed up to rally along side the LGBT community. People where energetic, some with mix feelings of anger and disappointment towards their government that insist on treating them as second-class citizens, and many others instilled with hope. As a photographer, I felt over joyed documenting this important day to so many people out there. For years I have only read in the history books about people (more specifically minority groups) and their struggles, and seen photos of their protests; but that day, I had the opportunity to take those photos and be part of history itself.

Thank you for requesting to use my photo!

cris0405 has contributed a photo to this story.

Babel-Fish

at 20:12 on February 4th, 2009

Yes its the humor and the sadness that struck home, the humor being that the welsh police replaced the union jack with a flag that has no national meaning, I see the humor in thinking of the response to the welsh dragon, lol

However I can also a puffed up police offical in London red in the face and crying in his coffee, where he is buggered if he does and buggered if he don't order the flag to be removed.

Look to be truthful its now widely accepted tha gays have equal rights, women have equal rights and there really need not be any pointers to this fact.

Other than the church needs to swallow the pill as there stance states even their gay priests and nuns are not loved by Jesus of whom I suspiciously sometimes think could have been gay as well. lol

Now I hope we are not going to blame the Police offical in London as he is tied to the rule that the Union Jack should be flown over police stations its in his rules and regulation, his bible and the police bible. Smerk, lol can not help laughing sorry.

youngturk

at 19:43 on February 15th, 2009

Amazing how so many people are so fascinated with two people of the same sex getting it on. It is ridiculous that these people fly these flags and get all caught up in this.

I would appreciate it if they would not force it down my throat. Thank you very much.

It is an insult to Christians and other people of faith as well. Like I say, freedom and speech isn't free anymore unless it is pro homosexual. Sad day indeed.

SteveMD2 (not verified)

at 21:05 on March 22nd, 2009

Wonderfull. The only people protesting are stuck in the muds, and religious haters. It is about time this minority of great people and good citizens be accepted for being exactly that.

I don't think the flag should fly all year, but for a week of celebration, why not. Perhaps the homophobes - which is exactly what they are - are uncomfortable with gay people finally having rights, like Civil Uniions almost equal legally to legal marriage.

And for the complainers, don't forget that here in the USA, we are still fighting the civil war with the christian right wing nutcases (lots of Christians are great people, but a minority are our version of the Afghan taliban, carrying their cross stuck up their uknowhat.).

And if you are still pissed at the Iraq war, and how PM Blair got suckered into it by Bush, remember that Bush's power base was the homophobes and the people whose forebears gavve us slavery and segregation. And you can bet he is little different then a nazi. His Grandfather Senator Prescott Bush's bank loaned the Nazis a fortune, which helped pay for their re-armament, and gave us all WWII.

Help make the word Bush and Bushed the ultimate profanity in our common language.

SteveMD2 (not verified)

at 21:09 on March 22nd, 2009

I kinda screwed up - correct text is It is about time this minority of great people and good citizens be accepted for being exactly that. refers to our gay and lesbian citizens.

Christian protests about having homosexuality shoved down their throat by eg gay flags is nothing compared to the hatred, terrorization, and even murders of gay people. Most of which is committed by "good Christians".

Jesus must weep for what these good Christians say, in his name.

But we are making progress.