from The Daily Telegraph
Women’s groups say Ipswich borough councils bid to raise the Progress Pride flag for 30 days breaches political neutrality laws
A Labour council is facing criticism over plans to fly a trans-inclusive Pride flag outside its town hall.
Ipswich borough council wants to raise the Progress Pride flag for 30 days every year until 2030.
However, women’s rights groups say the move is in breach of political neutrality laws under the Local Government Act 1986.
The Progress Pride flag is an amended version of the 1978 rainbow-coloured Pride flag and includes black, brown, pink, pale blue and white stripes, which represent people of colour in the LGBTQ+ community, the trans community and those living with HIV/Aids.
Susan Smith, a co-director of For Women Scotland, said the flag was “not neutral”, adding: “It is nakedly political and marks an adherence to an anti-scientific position on sex and gender.”
Fiona McAnena, director of campaigns for sex-based rights charity Sex Matters, said the council “should not be flying a flag that represents allegiance to a highly contested ideology, that of transgenderism”.
Duty to treat everyone fairly
She said: “This goes much further than normal support for gay rights. Elected councillors and local authority officials have a public duty to treat everyone fairly, but flying this flag signals that the council favours all things LGBTQ+, since that’s what the flag represents.
“It’s a clear message that anyone who questions trans activism and its harmful impact on other groups will be given short shrift.
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