In Pennsylvania state, Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, a Democratic Senate candidate, hung up the LGBTQ+ Pride flag Tuesday morning, only to be taken down five hours later.
The Pride flag that was proudly displayed during the first day of pride month (June 1), was taken down by Pennsylvania state employees due to a provision backed by state Republicans last year that bans flags which aren’t approved by lawmakers from flying at the Capitol. The provision prohibits flying any flag other than the American flag, Pennsylvania’s state flag, or a flag honoring missing American soldiers.
Fetterman said in a tweet Tuesday, that flying the flag from his office balcony is “technically breaking a law. Yet, it’s perfectly legal to discriminate against the LGBTQIA+ community in PA.”
In another statement, John Fetterman said:
I can’t say I am surprised, but I am deeply disappointed that the flags were removed, on the literal start of Pride Month,” Fetterman said. “But what’s even more disappointing and angering is that the Republicans in Pennsylvania can quickly come up with legislation to take down the flags, but not to ensure that Pennsylvania law explicitly protects the LGBTQIA+ community from discrimination.
“Lieutenant Governor Fetterman plays an essential role in carrying out Pennsylvania laws. By his continued defiance of the law that was passed by the General Assembly and signed by Governor Wolf, he continues to set a poor example to Pennsylvanians about what it means to respect the rule of law in this commonwealth,” said House GOP spokesman Jason Gottesman on Tuesday, according to PennLive.
Fetterman said the way to get him to stop displaying his flags is for the General Assembly to pass laws legalizing marijuana and extending the state’s anti-discrimination protections to the LGBTQIA+ community.
