Council says sorry to gay flag pub (From Essex County Standard)
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Council says sorry to gay flag pub
5:05pm Tuesday 21st August 2012 in Countywide news
Council says sorry to gay flag pub
A COUNCIL which forced a gay-friendly pub to take down three rainbow pride flags has issued an apology.
Tendring Council enforcement chiefs ordered the Lion, in Ardleigh, to take the flags down because they breached advertising laws as only a national or county flag can be flown without consent.
Now council leader Neil Stock has said sorry for how the council handled the affair and has offered to meet landlord Stephen Culham for clear-the-air talks.
Mr Stock said: “My understanding is government legislation exists to control unauthorised advertising, although in this case I am not convinced that the rainbow flag would necessarily constitute a breach of those regulations.
“However, the pub is in the heart of a conservation area and if there were three flags flying, of any description, then I can quite understand why the parish council would have needed the issue looked into.”
He added: “I feel we let ourselves down by sending out a strongly worded letter without contacting Mr Culham face to face to talk things through and explain to him what options were available to him.
“That has made us appear rather insensitive and ignorant - and it is not the way I want the council to be exercising its enforcement powers.”
Comments(7)
jaceylacey
says...
7:07pm Tue 21 Aug 12
Boy Wonder
says...
7:09pm Tue 21 Aug 12
WHY?
As a Gay man myself, stories like these really annoy me!
Would a straight person advertising being a straight pub by putting up 3 flags get the same response and apology? I very much doubt it!
Rules are rules and it shouldn't matter what your sexuality is, or even race, they should be enforced and dealt with in the same way.
When somebody decides to play the "Gay Card!", or councils start acting differently when worried they may have come across as "Homophobic", it sends a negative vibe to people with regards to Gay people!
It is hard enough for people who are a minority to be accepted fully in society these days, without constant negative stories being written about them, that I am pretty sure only made the papers because they are a minority!
Mr Culham needs to accept that he broke the rules, he is not allowed to fly 3 flags and move on!
The council also need to treat every person the same and not worry about upsetting people if they are a minority. By doing this it just upsets the people that are not seen as minorities!
It shouldn't matter if you are, "Gay", "Straight", "Black", "White", etc, we are all human beings and should all be treated in the same way.
Boy Wonder
says...
9:59pm Tue 21 Aug 12
itsagayday wrote:Trolling? Trolling?
and your not gay your trolling
I take great offence to this comment!
I am stating my opinion the same way you have several times on this story.
Trolls are very sick and twisted individuals that take great pleasure in causing extreme upset for people online in very disturbing ways.
As for our Council, whenever I have had to deal with them I have found them very pleasant and helpful in every way, and no letter I have received from them has been worded in anyway threatening.
If you feel so strongly about how you have been treated maybe you should make an official complaint using the correct channels!
And for your information, I am a VERY PROUD GAY MAN, I just don't feel the need to use that fact to get my voice heard or to get my own way!
Boy Wonder
says...
9:51am Wed 22 Aug 12
It's a shame that a few pathetic individuals ruin it for everyone else!
Boy Wonder
says...
9:51am Wed 22 Aug 12
It's a shame that a few pathetic individuals ruin it for everyone else!
peanuts68
says...
3:20pm Wed 22 Aug 12
peachey says...
6:03pm Tue 21 Aug 12
You forgot to say you appear rather homophobic as well Mr Stock. Stuffy old parish councillors with naff all else to do with their time I reckon.