Pride Banners Flown In Honor Of LGBTQ Month In Basking Ridge

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — In recognition of June as LGBTQ Pride Month, Bernards Township is flying six rainbow pride banners outside of the Municipal Complex.

The township committee unanimously passed a resolution at its May 25 meeting recognizing the month.

"On behalf of the committee, we are proud to celebrate pride month and recognize the contributions to the community made by the LGBTQ community. As we enter the summer we look forward to Independence Day. The fabric of our community is made stronger and enhanced by our diversity and commitment to ideas established in the Declaration of Independence that ALL are created equal. Being able to celebrate pride month tells us that we are closer to that idea. I am proud of the committee and residents of Bernards Township for celebrating our LGBQ friends and neighbors," said Mayor Janice Fields at the meeting.

Not everyone was in favor of the banners being flown. One township resident questioned whether the flags would be visible to the nearby St. James School and St. James Roman Catholic Church. He also asked whether the township would honor the same requests to fly flags for other organizations such as Black Lives Matter.

"I have to strongly say no one should live in the shadows and I know too many people personally who have lived in the shadows," said Township Committeeperson Kathleen Grochala. "As a devote Catholic, I am 100 percent behind these flags."

The six banners will remain hanging outside the municipal building and drive for the month of June.

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