During Pride Month, Weston-super-Mare witnessed a disheartening act of vandalism targeting Pride flags. The town council’s flagpoles in Grove Park and the Italian Gardens were sabotaged, with ropes cut and mechanisms damaged, preventing the planned flag-raising ceremony for Armed Forces and Emergency Services Day. Additionally, a local micropub reported their Pride flags had been forcibly taken down.
The damage was discovered on Thursday, June 18. Ciaran Cronnelley, leader of Weston-super-Mare Town Council, condemned the actions, stating, “I don’t believe it’s a coincidence that this vandalism happened during Pride Month. When people question the need to celebrate Pride, incidents like this highlight the ongoing intolerance that makes Pride more important than ever.”
The Black Cat Micropub on the High Street shared on their Facebook page that their Pride flags were ripped down overnight, something unprecedented in their history of displaying them. Despite the setback, the pub has since repaired the flags and proudly flies them once again.
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Although a temporary repair allowed the flagpole in the Italian Gardens to host the Armed Forces ceremonial flag-raising on June 19, the flag could only remain temporarily. The Pride flag was initially raised on June 1 to mark the start of Pride Month, celebrated annually in June.
Due to extensive damage, the Grove Park flagpole will remain out of use for the foreseeable future. Mr. Cronnelley addressed the perpetrators directly, saying, “You may have hoped to sow division, but instead, you’ve united us in determination and resolve.”
Grove Park is set to host Weston Pride’s main event on Saturday, June 27, marking the town’s first Pride celebration in three years. The Pride parade will begin at Princess Royal Square at 11:15 AM and proceed along Regent Street and High Street to Grove Park, reaffirming the community’s spirit and support.