(Response to “Following impassioned pleas from high schoolers, Los Gatos agrees to raise Progress Pride Flag,” published on LosGatan.com on Feb. 19.)
Thank you Council members for your dedicated service and hard work. Supporting marginalized groups and inclusion is a good thing. These groups have made large contributions to, and have been an active part of our community, since my family moved here in 1974. It’s great that they are finding a place and a voice in our society.
I am certain that voting in favor of allowing the hanging of this banner in support of a marginalized group was done with the very best of intentions, and bravo to those intentions.
However, IMHO, this is why I believe that hanging special interest flags on our Civic Center flagpole showing official political support for any special interest group is a mistake:
First, there are over 30 known pride flags representing different aspects of the LGBTQ+ community alone, and some articles have stated that up to 150 different flags exist altogether.
Who decides who hangs their flag next? Then, there are hundreds or even thousands of flags and banners representing special interest groups and agendas of all kinds. Flags representing religious, racial, ethnic, socio-economic and political affiliations are among them. By hanging a flag representing a special interest group of any type and showing official political support for that group of any kind, you have now opened the town up to endless contentious debate and potential lawsuits over favoritism and discrimination over whose flag should be hung next, and who is being shown favoritism.
For example, I am sure the majority of the people in town would agree that hanging the KKK banner would be completely inappropriate, but who draws that line? Does the KKK now have the same flag-hanging rights as the next group? If not, we may have a serious problem.
I am sure that there are residents of the town who feel that hanging this Progress Pride Flag is completely inappropriate and against their views. Our Civic Center belongs to our whole community, and by showing support for one group, we are automatically marginalizing others. Therefore, I don’t believe special interest flags should have a place on our flagpole.
Eric R. Drew
Los Gatos
