NJ Mayor Defies Council, Vetoes Flying Pride Flag In Town

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — A Morris County town is under fire after rejecting an ordinance that would allow the LGBTQ+ pride flag to be flown in a local park during Pride Month, which is June.

During a Monday night Boonton council meeting, tensions rose during the public comment session on Ordinance 11-26, which would amend the town’s flag code to allow the pride flag to be flown on municipal flag poles.

Many residents opposing the pride flag in Boonton spoke of concerns that if the town allowed the amendment, it could leave the town legally liable to fly any and all flags any group of people wanted.

To illustrate this point, former Boonton councilman Michael Eoga handed printed photos of a Nazi flag, depicting a swastika, to the council, in an attempt to demonstrate the dangers of government-endorsed imagery.

Eoga told the council that the Nazi flag was first flown alongside the German flag, saying it was “very similar” to what Ordinance 11-26 was proposing to do.

Ordinance 11-26 specifically reads: “the Town shall display, as adopted government speech, the LGBTQ+ Pride Flag in June of each year on the flagpole located at Grace Lord Park.”

Another resident who opposed the amendment claimed the pride flag was divisive, calling the American flag “the ultimate unifying flag.”

“Under the American flag, it doesn’t matter your race or gender; this flag guarantees us the pursuit of life, liberty, and justice for all,” remarked resident Pat Sheridan. “The American flag doesn't need help; it’s inviting, loving, and uniting for all Americans.”

Several residents were outraged with Eoga’s presentation of a swastika to the council, on which two Jewish members sit, with others saying that while the American flag ideally represents all, that is not always the case, hence the need for the Pride flag.

“Acknowledging one group’s humanity does not take anything away from anyone else,” supporter Danielle Gianfortune said. “It never has, and it never will.”

Other supporters of the amendment highlighted several other New Jersey towns that fly the flag in June. In the past, towns like Ridgewood, Glen Rock, Westwood, Clifton, Rochelle Park, Livingston, Elizabeth, Plainfield, Union Township, and Scotch Plains have raised the flag during Pride Month.

After dozens of residents spoke their opinions on the matter, and even more comments that were emailed were read aloud, the council decided to pass the ordinance, to fly the flag, with a 5-4 vote.

However, Mayor James Lynch took time at the end of the meeting to veto the measure, a move that can only be challenged with six votes. According to Boonton Rainbow Pride, a grassroots organization advocating for gay rights and visibility in Boonton, he is one of the few mayors in town history to veto a council vote.

“I don't believe a flag other than the US flag should fly on our flag poles,” the mayor said. “I believe that the fact that just because the majority shifted… That five people should dictate what half of the people that took their time to write in and come personally to oppose should dictate that.”

Despite this, Boonton Rainbow Pride has organized an event to fly the pride flag in Grace Lord Park on June 20 anyway. Click here for more information.

Click here to watch the full council meeting.