Woburn Raises LGBTQ Pride Flag After It Was Cut Down

WOBURN, MA — Woburn raised a new Pride flag Tuesday morning after the city's flag was found missing over the weekend.

The flag was rescued by resident Gretchen Pollard-Ramos, who found it in the bushes on the Woburn Common, Saturday.

Residents brought smaller Pride flags and rainbow streamers to the Common Saturday after finding out that the flag was missing. But some of those also went missing Sunday.

“Fortunately we won’t be scared and we will still be proud. Taking down the flag doesn’t mean we still don’t have our pride,” Pollard-Ramos told WBZ-TV.

"The City of Woburn supports the rights of every citizen to experience equality and freedom from discrimination, welcomes people of diverse backgrounds and believes a diverse population leads to a more vibrant community," Mayor Scott Galvin wrote on Facebook about the flag's restoration. "And while today ends the official month in which we celebrate our LBGTQ community, we encourage all residents to reflect on the difficult work for equality that LGBTQ members face, and to celebrate their vital contributions to their families, friends and our community."

"I'm deeply disappointed and saddened to hear that someone tore down the Pride flag in Woburn – this is a hateful act that is simply not representative of who we are as a community," state Sen. Cindy Friedman said in a statement. "Despite this, members of our community stepped up and raised a new Pride flag today, and I couldn't be more proud of their efforts."

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.