After Some Debate, Simsbury Selectmen OK Pride Flag At Town Hall

SIMSBURY, CT — It was a case of deja vu in Simsbury regarding the town's acceptance of Pride Month and the flying of a Pride Flag at Simsbury Town Hall.

The Simsbury Board of Selectmen voted 4-1 May 12 to fly the Pride Flag for the onth of June, which starts Sunday, at Simsbury Town Hall.

With Simsbury First Selectman Wendy Mackstutis absent from the meeting, selectmen voted 4-1 to fly the flag at town hall, with Republican Kevin Beal the lone dissenter.

Democrats have a 4-2 edge on Simsbury's top governing body.

Democrats Steven Antonio, the deputy first selectman, Diana A. Yeisley, and Curtis Looney were joined by Republican Heather Goetz in supporting the flag motion.

Like he did a year ago, Beal supported a separate motion to recognize and honor Pride Month, with each selectman reading separate sections of the Pride Month Proclamation.

But this year, selectmen originally planned to combine the flag and the Pride Month votes into one motion, which Beal opposed.

Ultimately, Beal forced a splitting of that issue, pushing for the flag motion to be a separate item.

A year ago, Beal said he believed only the state and American flags should fly at the town hall.

The proclamation part is meant to show Simsbury's support for the LGBTQ community and its opposition to discriminatory policies and speech against that community.

Yeisley further moved the flag component within the motion for the proclamation, which was met with some resistance from Beal.

"Last year, I didn't vote to raise the flag in front, and I want to do that again this year," Beal said. "If it's acceptable, I'd like to amend the motion to just have it address the proclamation."

Yeisley accepted the "friendly amendment" and took out the flag part of her motion.

This gave Beal the chance to vote "no" on the flag, which is from his general opposition to any flags other than the state and U.S. flags

Goetz, the board's other Republican, said selectmen might want to mull over a flag policy given the fact there are three flag poles outside town hall.

I think with our third flag pole that we have, that it would be good for us, at some point, to have a discussion on our agenda for our flag policy," Goetz said.

"I think, perhaps, using the third flag pole to, maybe, support other proclamations with their flag. I just think we should address it now that we have a third flag pole."

For the minutes of the May 12 Simsbury Board of Selectmen meeting, click on this link.

From May 22, 2024: 'Simsbury Officials OK Flying Pride Flag At Town Hall'