‘Your actions will be judged’, Kirklees Council warned, as flag policy branded ‘a joke’
Protesters gathered outside of Huddersfield Town Hall last night
Campaigners have branded changes to Kirklees’ flag policy “a joke” and have called on the local authority for “visible” support.
At last night’s (September 16) Full Council meeting, protesters gathered outside of Huddersfield Town Hall, campaigning against the local authority’s new flag policy brought in by Reform Leader, Cllr Sarah Wood. This states that only the Union Flag, Flag of St George and Civic Flag can be flown above civic buildings, along with a selection of others that recognise certain named days.
But as far as flags like the Pride flag, Irish Tricolour and Windrush Flag – which have previously been flown at the town hall – are concerned, these are no longer permitted. Requests can be made to the council for an alternative flag to be displayed, with the Leader of the Council having final say.
The roll out of the policy has temporarily been paused as the decision was successfully ‘called-in’ for scrutiny by the Lib Dem group. This review will be taking place next week.
During the meeting, two campaigners – Adnan Ahmed, and Jack Cambridge – made a deputation.
Jack said that members of the LGBTQ+ community had been left feeling “anxious” due to the policy changes. He described the events which have taken place in Calderdale, as a “real attack” on the community, and told the meeting that pride flags had been removed from corporate calendars, banners taken down and flags removed from the town hall in the neighbouring district.
He continued: “There is no basis for any of it and whatever has been said in the chamber, queer people experience those actions as homophobia. The fact that this is now being repeated at the council here in Kirklees is a joke.”
Adnan said: “When you know your council supports you it makes you feel safer. We’re all tax-paying residents, we’re all here working. Gay people do exist. There’s probably some in this room that we don’t know about. But everyone is real, it is a real thing and we shouldn’t really be attacking these people for differences.
“We expect continued visible support. Flags and banners matter, as I was saying. When this council flies its Pride flag, you uplift a minority and acknowledge that they exist…”
Adnan called on the council to work with the community to ensure that next year’s pride march can take place with adequate support and funding. He added: “Visibility works in two directions – it is for those of us in the community to see ourselves in the place we call home and it is for everyone else so they may see us as we are. Your neighbours, your colleagues, your family. The queer community of Kirklees is now watching and your actions will be judged.”
Cabinet Member for Place, Culture and Volunteering, Cllr Pip Harvey, thanked the speakers for their attendance and stated that everyone should be able to be proud of who they are, feel welcome in Kirklees and like their council represents them.
She continued: “…we are elected to represent the whole of Kirklees. We will listen to every community and consider every view but ultimately we have a responsibility to make decisions based on what we believe is right for the whole district.
“…Our approach is to use flags that represent our shared civic institutions, our national identity and the places and communities that make up Kirklees. Nothing in this policy is intended to or does diminish our respect for LGBTQ+ people or the contribution that they make to Kirklees, nor does it mean that pride or LGBTQ+ organisations are excluded from council engagement or support.”
Councillor Harvey said the administration was looking to maximise the funding and support available to community-led events across the district, with any funding to be considered fairly and through proper processes.
She added: “We should not have to choose between celebrating diversity, and being proud of our shared national identity. We can recognise LGBTQ+ history, without erasing British history. We can celebrate different cultures and faiths, without diminishing others. And we can support individual communities while ensuring that the council itself remains a place that represents everyone equally.”
Huddersfield has a notable history when it comes to the LGBTQ+ community, as was pointed out during the deputation. The UK’s first pride march outside of London was held in the town on July 4, 1981. This was sparked by the police raids on Huddersfield gay nightclub, The Gemini, with thousands marching in solidarity.