Mitcham Council will fly the rainbow flag every year on day against homophobia
THE rainbow flag will be flown at Mitcham Council each year on May 17 to commemorate an international day against homophobia — but one councillor says it’s too politically correct.
THE rainbow flag will be flown at Mitcham Council each year on May 17 to commemorate an international day against homophobia.
The push by councillor Jane Bange followed a discussion about flying the rainbow flag during Adelaide’s queer arts and cultural festival Feast, which the council had done for a number of years.
Some councillors had raised concerns that it was not appropriate to fly a flag for what was a commercial event.
But Cr Bange believed the International Day Against Homphobia, Transphobia and Biphobia — which celebrated the date in 1990 when homosexuality was removed from the World Health Organisation’s International Classification of Diseases — would be an appropriate time to fly the flag.
She said she had only recently learnt of the day and she was “absolutely amazed” that homosexuality was still considered a disease when she was the age of 32.
“I think it’s important for any level of government to acknowledge progress in human rights and that’s what this is,” Cr Bange said.
“I think it’s a day to celebrate, especially in light of the recent progress on marriage equality.
“If we feel strongly about an issue or the community feels strongly, why shouldn’t we do it? It doesn’t cost much to put up a flag and take it down again.”
Cr John Wilson was the only elected member to oppose flying the rainbow flag because he thought it was inappropriate.
“I’m concerned when we get involved with what may be considered politically correct actions,” Cr Wilson told Mitcham’s most-recent meeting.
“I think that’s what this amounts to for me. I think it’s a politically correct proposal we’re putting up.”
After the meeting, Cr Wilson said he did not think it was “an issue that is of importance for the council to be making a special thing of”.
“We should be focusing on the business the community expects us to focus on,” he said.
Flying the flag on May 17 would be included in official council policy.