Perth Voice Interactive

A PLAN to fly the Pride flag outside Bayswater civic centre has been shot down by half its council, with little explanation from the nay-sayers.

Cr Nat Latter, elected in October 2023, called on colleagues to support flying the Pride flag, which also flutters outside civic centres in Perth, Vincent, and Bassendean councils. 

Cr Natter said at the January 30 meeting: “It matters for governments to be visibly inclusive in this way because it saves lives. 

“It encourages engagement with the City and participating in civic life and because it’s incredibly meaningful for any level of government to proclaim their support for LGBTQ people in a way like this. 

“We can set the tone in our district.

Lasting impact

“We cannot forget that a large anti-LGBTQ protest… happened within our district last year. And I applaud the City and councillors for their response to it in the moment; but those kind of events have a lasting impact on the people affected, and our response should be lasting too.”

Cr Latter has long been a supporter of LGBTQ+ people, and previously organised the Drag Queen Story Time which was targeted by protesters in 2023.

The civic centre currently has four flag poles which fly the Australian national flag, the WA state flag, the Aboriginal flag, and the Torres Strait Island flag. Installing a new flag pole would cost about $8,000.

Council staff suggested a couple of dozen other flags could also fly from the new pole on the appropriate days, including Federation Day, Australia Day, Harmony Day, Anzac Day, Sorry Day, or Chinese New Year.

Cr Latter said even raising the issue of flying the Pride flag brought out some nasty comments: “I’ve received messages of support but also a few really disgusting responses to this being in the agenda.”

Cr Latter’s idea was supported by PrideWA CEO Lauren Butterly who wrote a deputation saying: “The Pride flag indicates a safe space for our community. The mental health statistics for our LGBTQIA+ community speak to a need for all local governments to actively show they are safe spaces.

“Seeing a Pride flag displayed on public buildings is a way to make members of our LGBTQIA+ community feel safe, included, accepted and celebrated in their local area,” Dr Butterly wrote. 

Mayor Filomena Piffaretti, who gave a staunch vocal defence of the LGBTQ+ members during the Drag Queen Story Time protest last year, did not weigh in on the Pride flag issue when she voted against Cr Latter’s proposal this week. 

All of Ms Piffaretti’s supporters likewise voted against: Crs Josh Eveson, Assunta Meleca, Steven Ostaszewskyj and Michelle Sutherland

Those in favour were Cr Natter, Dan Bull, Lorna Clarke, Giorgia Johnson, and Elli Petersen-Pik.

Cr Ostaszewskyj was the only ‘no’ voter to offer a rationale: “I believe we can demonstrate inclusivity, we can be visible in our demonstration of being inclusive, and we can show support of the LGBTQI+ community, of which I am a member.

“I believe we can do this in a very visible way, right on the verge of Broun Avenue there. We have a beautiful digital sign there, which I believe we spent… I think it was $50,000 on this big beautiful digital sign there.”

Cr Latter liked that idea, but felt a flag had “symbolism and significance.”

With the votes locked 5:5, Ms Piffaretti’s casting vote as mayor killed the motion. No motion to use the digital billboard was put forward either.

Later in the meeting during a questions-without-notice session, Cr Johnson asked Ms Piffaretti why she’d voted down this motion a great job communicating to the City’s diverse community last year.

Ms Piffaretti responded: “If I wanted to do that, I’m happy to talk to you outside of this chamber.”

by DAVID BELL