Mount Kisco OKs Pride flag — but no pole

By MARTIN WILBUR

Mount Kisco will display the Pride flag on municipal grounds for the first time throughout June but officials decided against raising it on the Village Hall flagpole because of the absence of a policy regarding flags.

The Village Board agreed 4-0 at its last meeting on May 18 that it would recognize Pride Month, which commemorates the Stonewall uprising in Manhattan in June 1969, considered by many as the spark that created the modern LGBTQ+ movement. But Deputy Mayor Karen Schleimer said she had concerns that without a specific policy the village may not be authorized to fly the Pride flag on its flagpoles. She also had received correspondence from residents questioning whether it was permissible.

“We need to have a policy concerning all flags that we may be requested to fly on village flagpoles,” Schleimer said. “Personally, I think it is something that we do need to discuss.”

She suggested that the board pass the resolution recognizing Pride Month but to omit the portion concerning raising of the flag and asked Village Attorney Jonathan Nelson for guidance.

Nelson said he was unaware of any policy that speaks to whether or not Mount Kisco can raise the Pride flag on its pole. The original resolution stated that the village would have to comply with all laws, rules and regulations, including the United States flag always having to be above any other flags on a pole.

“I do know, it’s my understanding it’s not going to be raised on a flagpole, it’s going to be displayed, and given that it’s commensurate with the month of recognition this month, I don’t know of any policy that would preclude that,” Nelson said.

Two board members contended that if Mount Kisco included the flag on its pole at Village Hall it wouldn’t be running afoul of any laws. Trustee Tom Luzio said many other municipalities throughout Westchester and the United States fly a Pride flag each June without consequences.

“I’m pretty certain that your firm won’t find any law precluding raising such a flag,” Luzio said to Nelson. “Mount Kisco, this town, celebrates multiple events in multiple ways that recognize various heritages, be it in regard to race, culture, ethnicity or religion. 

"Parades, displays and festivals are just a few of the ways we celebrate these sorts of things in our town, and this town should, likewise, welcome our LGBTQ+ community in a similar way.”

Trustee Heather Bryant suggested that either the board could fly the flag and work on a policy or display the Pride flag somewhere else on the grounds at the Village Hall to show Mount Kisco is commemorating Pride Month.

The board voted to amend the resolution to make it clear the Pride flag will be displayed at Village Hall but not flown.