Walking With Pride: Darien Man Protests Town's Flag Policy

DARIEN, CT — Anyone driving in the vicinity of Darien Town Hall this month on any given day might see the colors red, orange, yellow, green, indigo and violet waving proudly on the side of the road.

Dan Guller, chair of the Darien Pride committee, is walking 40 miles this month to both protest the town's recent decision to limit the kinds of flags that can be flown at the governmental building, and to raise money and awareness for The Trevor Project and their 40 Meaningful Miles challenge.

The Trevor Project is a nonprofit that was formed in 1998 that focuses on suicide prevention among LGBTQ youth.

In November, the Darien Board of Selectmen voted 3-2 to pass a flg policy that only allows the American flag, Connecticut flag and Darien flag to be flown at town hall.

First Selectman Monica McNally said the three-flag policy represents all residents in town, but members of the LGBTQ community feel they've been unfairly targeted.

Following the board's decision, Guller knew he had to make his voice heard.

The 40 Meaningful Miles challenge was brought to his attention. Since he only lives a mile or so from town hall, Guller decided he'd spend 20 days this month walking from his home to 2 Renshaw Road and back with the Pride flag in tow.

"Since our town government will refuse to carry the banner for our queer youth, I will do that figureatively and literally," Guller said.

Guller noted that he's concerned about the LGBTQ youth in town who feel they're not represented. He cited research done by The Trevor Project that shows that having a supporting and accepting adult in a queer youth's life can reduce suicide attempts by 40 percent.

"I don't want our town to be viewed as unaccepting. People talk a lot about mental health, and I think we need to talk about everyone's mental health," Guller said.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Guller had completed 24 miles of his journey. Over the past two weeks, others have joined him on his morning walks. The support has been overwhelming, he said.

"I literally anticipated this being my little personal journey," he said.

State Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-25) walked with Guller earlier this week.

"I think the town government made a huge mistake by limiting the type of flags that are flown here at town hall. The Pride flag represents this community, it represents openness, it represents diversity, inclusion, respect for folks," Duff said in a video posted to the Darien Pride Facebook page. Guller has been documenting his walks with livestreams.

"I appreciate Dan and what he's doing, and everyone here who's walking, and the cause that you have here," Duff added. "I think it brings awareness to the town and it brings awareness to the area."

Other local elected officials and clergy members have also pledged their support to Guller and future treks.

Some of the reaction hasn't been as positive. In one of his livestreams, Guller said a driver slowed down and gave walkers the middle finger.

"It means we need more of this," Guller said of his walks and demonstrations of support. "That kind of behavior can cause people to not want to live truthfully because of fear of people who are going to be cruel. That's why it's important for those of us who feel we are able to walk and be proud and say, 'You have nothing to fear. We are here for you.'"

Anyone who wants to join Guller on one of his eight remaining walks can message him on the Darien Pride Facebook page, or through Instagram.

"Anyone of any political affiliation, of any background, ally, old, young — it doesn't matter. As long as you can walk two miles, we'd love for you to come join us. Even if it's cold, it's still a beautiful thing to do," Guller said.

On Dec. 17, Darien Pride will hold a vigil and rally at Darien Town Hall in conjunction with RAGETIME, an activist organization put together by Darien High School graduates a few years ago.

The event will feature a few speakers, and will honor victims of the recent shooting at Club Q in Colorado Springs, Co., as well as the owners of Troupe429 in Norwalk who were assaulted in October.

"We want to highlight the fact that there is this element in our community that would like to silence us, that would like for us to go back into the shadows," Guller said. "We are going to gather together and in one voice say, 'We will not be going back.'"