Row breaks out as Pride flag removed by town council after complaints

A row has broken out in a spa town in the Peak District after a Pride flag was removed by its council following complaints. 

Matlock Town Council put up a number rainbow flags along its high street for the first time to mark the start of national Pride month, which takes place in June. 

The flags were erected along with others including the St George’s Cross and the Union Flag, which had previously hung above shop windows and were in need a refresh after becoming ‘old and dirty’. 

But just days after being displayed, one Pride flag has now been removed from the historic high street following a complaint from a Christian bookshop. 

The Cornerstone Bookshop, which is run by a charitable Trust, admitted it had asked for the flag to be removed as it did not want to ‘promote homosexuality’. 

Judy Crook, who runs the bookshop, told the Guardian that as ‘a point of basic Christian belief, we welcome everybody’, but admitted ‘we’re not happy with the gay rights situation’.

She added: ‘We have to respect other people’s views. But we didn’t want the flag flying outside our shop.’ 

The move has caused outrage among members of the LGBTQ+ community in Matlock as well as local residents, who have claimed the council bowed to pressure from the bookstore – which the local authority denies. 

Cornerstone Bookshop praised the ‘speedy removal’ of the flag after raising concerns to the council and has rejected any accusations of homophobia. 

In a joint statement, the Trust’s trustees told the Derbyshire Times: ‘Cornerstone Christian Bookshop is an inclusive organisation that wants to share the Christian faith with everyone. 

‘All are welcome to our bookshop, regardless of their sexuality. 

‘We would be delighted to fly the Derbyshire flag, the flag of St George or the Union Flag. 

‘However, we would decline to fly any flag representing specific political causes, as our aim is solely to promote the Christian faith.

‘We note that there are many other places where the pride flag can be flown. As you will no doubt be aware, many other faith communities would also decline to fly this flag.’

The council later put out a statement saying it had removed the flag after fearing someone may remove it themselves and be injured doing so. 

However, the bookshop denies making any threat to remove it themselves, according to The Derbyshire Times. 

The council clerk, Simon Hosmer, said: ‘We removed the flag due to a strong belief someone would put themselves in danger by removing it themselves. 

‘As a town council we can ill afford damage to property let alone damage to a person that we may be liable for.

‘A lot of the local community are rightly upset that this has happened.

‘It may look to people that we have bowed under the pressure of a single complaint. That is simply not the case.’

But locals in Matlock have been left outraged by the decision from the council to remove the flag, claiming it is ‘appalling’ and ‘disgusting’. 

Kate Bond, who lives in the Derbyshire town, said she donated £150 to the council to revitalise the flags but was dismayed when she heard the news. 

‘More than anything, what I’m bothered about is the fact that it’s happened without anybody knowing about it. This sly little way it’s been done, it’s wrong somehow. If it’s your idea to put them up, stand by it,’ she told The Guardian. 

Others on social media have also been strong in their condemnation of the council’s move to remove the flag. 

Angela Hardy said: ‘This is appalling and I am keen to point out it does not reflect the views of all religions or even Christians.

‘In my experience everyone is welcomed regardless of race, colour, age, sexuality or anything else.’

‘I agree that their exclusive views should not be allowed to influence the council and the town as a whole.’

Eileen Gallagher added: ‘This is absolutely disgusting [in] this day [and] age. The council should be ashamed for even pandering to these type of people.’

There have been a number of cases in towns and cities across the UK where rainbow flags have been torn down, stolen or vandalised earlier this year. 

And in London a council has been warned of legal action over its plans to hang up trans-inclusive flags to mark Pride Month.

In collaboration with Westminster City Council, the Crown Estate, who own the majority of properties on Regent Street, plan to fly Progress Pride flags in 20 locations throughout the central London area between mid-June and mid-July.

But if the proposed decorations are hoisted into the air, the council, nicknamed ‘Wokeminster’ by its own chief executive Stuart Love, and the Crown Estate risk facing legal action from the Christian Legal Centre.

Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, told The Telegraph that the Pride flags were an attack on traditional beliefs about sex and gender.

She warned that the Christian Legal Centre would have no option but to pursue legal action if the council chooses to proceed with the Pride display, arguing that everyone should feel welcome in Regent Street.

Ms Williams said: ‘They send the message that people holding these views – which are worthy of respect in a democratic society – are not welcome.

‘The majority of the public do not know the highly controversial and harmful symbolism presented by the Progress Pride Flag.’

MailOnline has contacted Matlock Town Council for comment.