The decision to fly the Pride Flag in West Lincoln came down to a 5-2 vote.
A special meeting was held today and councillors voted in favour of flying the flag, but Mayor Dave Bylsma and Councillor Harold Jonker voted against it.
Mayor Bylsma is the National President of the Christian Heritage Party (CHP), while Jonker is the candidate for the CHP in Niagara-West.
The issue of whether to raise the flag sparked tension in the small community after it was revealed that West Lincoln was the only municipality in Niagara not to raise it.
The Mayor at first said it couldn't be raised due to procedures that would need to take place and refused to call a special meeting to fast-track the issue.
Two other councillors circumvented the Mayor and were able to schedule the meeting for today.
100 protesters stood outside the township hall this afternoon encouraging councillors to vote to raise the flag.
Organizer, Bennett Collins, tells CKTB the decision is amazing, and this proves people can speak up and make a difference.
Collins grew up in Smithville, and says he wants to make life easier in the community for young people to be comfortable to be themselves.
A petition has also been circulating calling for Mayor Bylsma to resign over his handling of the flag issue, and comments he made on-air about the LGBTQ+, black and aboriginal communities.
There's no word on if Bylsma was called out for his remarks in the meeting.
Chair of Pride Enzo DeDivitiis confirmed the vote to CKTB and issued this statement:
"Each step our LGBTQ+ community takes is for equality and pride. Make no mistake about it, our steps forward of equality is for all our brothers and sisters. Our indigenous family, people of color everyone, all our brothers and sisters! Pride and freedom only are true if its shared equally with out bigotry."
He will join us with more details about what occurred in the meeting at 5:10pm.
Bennet Collins
