LGBTQ Activists Defy NJ Township, Pride Rainbows Return To Town Hall

WEST ORANGE, NJ — “They can wash away the rainbow, but they can’t wash away our pride.” This was the statement from LGBTQ advocates as they gathered for a colorful display of solidarity at West Orange Town Hall last weekend.

The steps at town hall were painted with rainbow colors as a show of support in 2022. However, a recent decision to remove the rainbows has raised an outcry from local activists, who say it’s a slap in the face as another Pride Month approaches in June.

Garden State Equality, the largest LGBTQ advocacy and education organization in New Jersey, posted a video on Sunday that shows people “painting” the steps at town hall with rainbow-colored chalk – a move that the town’s mayor has decried as “defiant activism.”

“Like you all know, the Pride flag is about visibility [and] inclusivity – and we want to send a message to the mayor that they can wash away the paint, but they can’t wash away our pride,” said Brielle Winslow-Majette, acting executive director at the nonprofit.

Here’s what the controversy is about:

'ANGST' IN WEST ORANGE

According to West Orange Mayor Susan McCartney, the Pride flags were removed in order to repair the steps.

McCartney explained the decision in a message to the community on May 5:

“The Pride rainbow on the Town Hall steps has been removed to allow for necessary restoration and repair work. Over time, the steps have experienced wear and deterioration that required attention to ensure their long-term safety for everyone who gathers there. Restoring the surface to its original condition was a necessary first step in that process. In anticipation of the Nation's 250th anniversary, and as a proud RevolutionNJ community, we are also preparing the steps for our upcoming Memorial Day ceremony, where dozens of neighbors come together in celebration.”

“I want to acknowledge directly how uncomfortable the timing of this may seem, given that we are soon to proclaim June as Pride Month and I understand why it raises concerns,” McCartney continued.

“The township continues to have a deep respect for the LGBTQIA+ community,” she said. “My administration is already working with the Human Relations Commission on a meaningful Pride event in June, and I want to assure you that your voice matters, and I am listening.”

McCartney said her “commitment to honoring the values, cultures, traditions and identities of every member of our community” hasn’t wavered.

“I warmly welcome any and all suggestions for other ways to prominently highlight Pride in our community,” she said.

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McCartney also spoke about the decision at the town council meeting on May 12, saying that she “takes full responsibility for our front steps.”

“I invite you all to come outside and see,” she told meeting attendees. “They are in dire need of repair.”

“We were not repainting the stairs because as of 2024, we have a policy – I called it a moratorium that apparently applies to land use – we have a policy in place that we are not putting flags on town property,” she continued.

Some advocates have since pointed out that there have been several flag raising ceremonies held at Town Hall in recent years, including an Italian Heritage celebration and milestones for Ethiopian and Eritrean communities in 2023. There was also a LGBTQ+ Pride Month event held at Town Hall in 2025 that was organized with township approval.

Later in the meeting, council members Tammy Williams and Michelle Casalino spoke about the controversy.

Williams said she was “very shocked” to learn the rainbows were removed.

“The pride flag was a result of our community going through a tremendous amount of challenges, with people saying West Orange is supposed to be a welcoming community – and they didn’t feel that,” she said.

Meanwhile, Casalino said the flag was never meant to be permanent, and was meant to be a temporary occurrence that took place every year to honor Pride Month.

“My recommendation would be – and I know we had the ordinance – but I wouldn’t be painting anything on the steps in permanent,” she said. “You know, we just had angst again in the community this past week, and it’s a shame, because we all want to come together and be inclusive and respectful with each other.”

Watch footage from the May 12 meeting here, or view it below (video is cued to McCartney’s comments at the 2:03:06 mark):

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ACTIVISTS: ‘OUR EXISTENCE IS NOT UP FOR DEBATE’

The mayor’s explanation hasn't held water with some advocates, including Winslow-Majette, who encouraged the community to contact the mayor’s office and voice their concerns in a recent social media post.

“We demand visibility – our existence is not up for debate,” Winslow-Majette wrote.

Advocates have continued to protest the decision.

The West Orange Pride Coalition recently shared a post about for a “Rainbow Steps Rally” at 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 31 at Town Hall.

Activists’ latest salvo against the rainbow removal took place Sunday – with participants using colored chalk to replicate the rainbow flag.

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MAYOR REACTS TO ‘DEFIANT ACTIVISM’

On Monday, the town’s mayor issued a statement after learning that the rainbows were back at 66 Main Street.

McCartney reiterated that there are existing township policies prohibiting flag displays and similar installations at Town Hall.

The mayor said she proposed illuminating Town Hall with colored lighting for Pride Month as a compromise.

“My goal was to identify an approach that balanced celebration with consistency in the application of municipal policy,” McCartney said.

“For that reason, I was disappointed to learn that the Town Hall steps were chalk painted on Sunday afternoon without authorization or approval from the township,” the mayor said. “While advocacy and peaceful expression are important parts of civic life, actions that intentionally disregard established policies and procedures place the township in a difficult position and undermine the spirit of collaboration necessary to move community conversations forward productively.”

McCartney continued:

“Defiant activism, regardless of the issue or perspective being advanced, cannot replace respectful dialogue, cooperation, and lawful process. Community progress is best achieved when residents, organizations, boards, commissions, and elected officials work together in good faith and with mutual respect for both one another and the policies that govern public spaces. I continue to welcome constructive conversation with the Human Relations Commission, community advocates, and residents to explore meaningful and inclusive ways to celebrate Pride Month and support our LGBTQ+ neighbors in a manner that reflects both the values and the shared responsibilities of our community.”

“My hope is that we move forward focused not on division or confrontation, but on partnership, understanding, and positive engagement on behalf of all who call West Orange home,” McCartney said.

West Orange has seen other controversy involving flags at the municipal building.

In 2024, a Palestinian flag raising event scheduled to take place at Town Hall was canceled, an announcement that threw new fuel on an already fiery local debate over the Israel-Hamas war. McCartney’s decision to cancel the event due to “unforeseen challenges” got both cheers and jeers from the community.

• Related: West Orange Mayor Cancels Palestine Flag Raising, Critics Cry Foul

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