LGBTQ+ group in Great Yarmouth on Progress Pride flag

Rupert Lowe, the Reform MP, criticised Great Yarmouth Borough Council's decision to fly the flag from the Town Hall's flagpole

Its display came after Mr Lowe tweeted it should not be displayed in public buildings.

Critics, including some in the LGB community, say the symbol - which features the colours of the transgender flag - promotes gender ideology.

The ideology promotes the idea of people's so-called 'gender identity' over their biological sex.

Critics claim this poses a risk to women's sex-based rights as well as vulnerable children by encouraging them to believe they can be born "in the wrong body".

Andrew Livingstone, from Great Yarmouth Pride, believes that Mr Lowe is only making a fuss out of this in a desperate attempt of "reactionary politics".

He said: "The inclusive Progress Pride flag is not about what Rupert claims, he is twisting it and is so wrong.

"It is all about the inclusivity of everyone. It feels that he is attacking minority groups and in turn, inciting hatred in the town.

"He has banged on about immigration long enough so this is just the next thing, it is ludicrous reactionary politics."

Bimini Bon Boulashe at the Great Yarmouth Pride event in 2022 (Image: Great Yarmouth Borough Council) In September 2022, at Great Yarmouth's pride event, which saw Ru Paul Drag Queen Star, Bimini Bon Boulashe attend, there was an incident which saw a 13-year-old boy attacked.

The boy was walking through St George's Park "happily expressing his sexuality and wearing a Pride Flag" that day when he was beaten up by a group of "thugs".

It was the second hate attack on LGBTQ+ members parading that day.

Great Yarmouth Pride event in 2019 (Image: Denise Bradley) The group fears that there could be a rise in aggression against the LGBTQ+ community as a result of Mr Lowe's narrative.

READ MORE: Row rages as council flies 'progress' flag in direct rebuke to local MP

"Rupert Lowe is unwinding the progress we were making in society of being more understanding and accepting of people," Mr Livingstone added.

"It is scary now for vulnerable people and minority groups in the borough who are feeling stigmatised and do not trust him, we don't feel supported by him.

"In 2022 there were two attacks on young people at a Pride event and his words are making us feel unsafe that this aggression could reoccur."

Great Yarmouth Borough Council members, from both the Conservative and Labour group, gather outside Town Hall with chief executive Sheila Oxtoby (Image: Great Yarmouth Borough Council) Nelson Ward borough councillor Kerry Robinson Payne had also criticised Mr Lowe's comments.

She said: "The divisive nature of Rupert Lowe's comments is extremely disappointing as the council chose to raise the flag as a gesture of inclusivity, diversity and general acceptance for all and everyone."

READ MORE: Drag Race star speaks out after Great Yarmouth hate attack

Mr Lowe maintains that he is "protecting" the community rather than "inciting hatred".

Rupert Lowe (Image: Rupert Lowe) He said: "We must treat everyone with respect, and everyone is free to live how they choose.

"That does not mean we must endorse the poisonous gender ideology that is promoted within this flag.

"It represents the incredibly contested and controversial view that people, including young children, can change their sex - that means painful and permanent surgery and other medical procedures.

"I do not endorse that position, nor should public sector institutions. Biological reality matters.

"This is not inciting hatred - this is about protecting and safeguarding vulnerable children and women.

"My view is that public sector institutions should instead focus on delivering timely public services for all people within the borough, which is not currently the case."

Rupert Lowe's initial Tweet about the Progress Pride Flag (Image: Facebook)

READ MORE: NHS hospital under fire for telling people not to say babies are born female or male

Great Yarmouth Pride event in 2019 (Image: Denise Bradley) The Progress Pride flag was created in 2018 by nonbinary artist Daniel Quasar to represent diversity and inclusion.

It features the original 'pride' rainbow, with the addition of extra colours in an arrow, to represent that progress is still needed.

The new colours are supposed to represent marginalised LGBTIQ+ people of colour through stripes of black and brown, as well as the triad of blue, pink and white from the trans flag.

In a council meeting debating putting up the flag Carl Smith, leader of the council, said: "As a council, we are fully supportive of the LGBTQ+ community in this district, some of whom work within the council."

"I propose we fly the flag outside this building to show this."

Mr Lowe has also criticised the James Paget University Hospital for saying it is wrong to describe babies as being "born female or male".