A London council has been forced to take down a Progress Pride flag after a Christian political candidate accused it of being politically partisan.
Maureen Martin, said Lewisham Council had breached the Local Government Act by flying the flag during an election campaign in June from the roof of its Town Hall in Catford in south London. The Progress Pride flag combines the six-colour rainbow flag with the transgender and the marginalised communities flags and requires special planning permission, unlike the rainbow Pride flag.
The creator of the re-developed flag has described the additions as being “both deliberate and meaningful. The light blue is the traditional colour for baby boys [and] pink is [traditionally] for girls, and the white in the middle is for those who are transitioning, those who feel they have a neutral gender or no gender, and those who are intersexed.”
Ms Martin said :
“It is unacceptable that Lewisham Council and other councils across the country have and are making such an extreme public and ideological statement on such contested issues, even during elections.
“Greater awareness must be urgently raised about what these flags stand for, and public authorities flying them must be brought to account.”
Miss Martin’s lawyers said that by flying the flag, the council was giving support during an election to political parties “who seek expanded rights for transexuals and associated identities.”
Lewisham Council took down the flag after Ms Martin’s lawyers threatened it with a High Court injunction saying it wanted "to avoid any concern".