Refurm Pride flag desicion in Sunderland sparks charity response

That’s the message from Peter Darrant, CEO of OUT North East, following Sunderland City Council’s decision to stop flying the Pride flag at City Hall.

The move was confirmed in a social media post from Reform UK Sunderland, which announced that the St George’s flag will now be flown outside City Hall 365 days a year.

(Image: Reform UK Sunderland)

Cllr Ciera Hudspith, portfolio holder for culture, tourism and heritage, said: “Any flag flown outside a governing body should represent our nation and our country as a whole, not a sectional interest.

“Time and time again on the doorstep, residents told us they were confused as to why England’s flag was not flying outside City Hall all year round.”

She added that only national and civic flags will be flown at City Hall, meaning the exclusion of the Pride flag.

Mr Darrant said: “We are very disappointed to have seen posts on social media from a Reform UK-run council in the North East that they are banning the Pride flag from council buildings.

“We believe this is the wrong decision.

Peter Darrant, CEO of OUT North East (Image: OUT North East)

“While Pride was born from protest and the fight for the right to exist openly and equally, the Pride flag today is also a symbol of community, inclusion and belonging.

“For many LGBTQ+ people, seeing it displayed publicly is a sign that they are welcome, valued and supported.

“Removing the Pride flag from public buildings risks sending the opposite message at a time when visibility and solidarity still matter deeply to many people.”

He also warned that the decision could harm the city’s reputation with external stakeholders.

He said: “Decisions like this also risk sending the wrong message to investors, partners, organisations and visitors who increasingly expect places to demonstrate that they are modern, inclusive and welcoming communities.”

Mr Darrant added: “It will leave potential investors wondering, ‘is this actually a modern city we want to invest in?’.

“We’ll still argue the case that it is.”