CRYSTAL LAKE, Ill. (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The McHenry County Board has rejected the creation of a flag policy viewed by many as an effort to prevent the county from flying the gay pride flag.
The county flew the gay pride flag during pride month; but then Republican board member Jeff Thorsen, of Crystal Lake, proposed creating a flag policy that would only allowing the flying of the American flag, State of Illinois flag, county flag, POW/MIA flag, and Purple Heart flag at county government buildings.
Board members voted 17-6 to postpone consideration of the flag policy for McHenry County government buildings; but by moving the resolution to create a flag policy to a future date for consideration, the Northwest Herald reported that board members took a majority vote and effectively rejected the proposed policy entirely.
“I think this is the most divisive resolution that I’ve ever seen, since I've been sitting up here,” said Democratic board member Paula Yensen, of Lake in the Hills. “It’s discriminatory, it’s not inclusive, and we shouldn’t even be here. We shouldn’t be debating it. We should be embracing our diversity and being inclusive.”
Currently, McHenry County does not have a flag policy. All proposals to fly special flags, like the gay pride flag, typically need to go before the County Board for approval.
Related
