HASSO HERING

A perspective from Oregon’s mid-Willamette Valley

Council again votes for gay pride flag

Written May 12th, 2025 by Hasso Hering

Only the U.S. and Oregon flags were fluttering above the City Hall plaza in June 2024. This year will be different.

As it did two years ago, the Albany City Council on Monday voted once again to venture into the contentious field of identity politics by flying a “pride” flag at City Hall during the month of June.

In a move not included on the agenda, Councilwoman Jackie Montague proposed the action to honor the “LGBTQ plus” community. The  council took a voice vote, and there was only one audible “no.”

I caught up with the meeting late on Monday by watching a YouTube recording, which does not show who voted against Montague’s motion. All I can say is that the “no” sounded like the voice of Councilwoman Marilyn Smith. (This morning, May 13, she confirmed that the voice saying “no” was hers.)

Smith had voted against a similar flag proposal in June 2023. That year the council eventually adopted a resolution on flag etiquette that avoided flying the gay-pride flag on the pole at City Hall but had the city post such a flag inside the big window overlooking the City Hall plaza.

At the time, there was talk about the flag pole being too short to accommodate a third banner below the American and Oregon state flags. Any flag hung below those two would likely snag on the City Hall roof.

There was no discussion on Montague’s motion Monday, and the height of the flag pole was not mentioned.

The issue may come up again at the council’s regular meeting Wednesday night, when a new flag resolution, amended to reflect Monday’s action, will likely be up for a vote. (hh)

In this image from YouTube, Councilwoman Montague reads her flag proposal on Monday.





56 responses to “Council again votes for gay pride flag”

  1. Bill says:

    The Albany Oregon City Council VOLUNTARILY votes to involve us in AND TELL THE WORLD THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO US IS?
    disaster relief? NOPE,
    hunger? NOPE,
    disabilities? NOPE,
    health? NOPE,
    the elderly? NOPE,
    veterans? NOPE
    Albany wants to involve the city and it’s citizens in GAY PRIDE !!! LGBTQ +++++ !!!!!
    THANK YOU CITY OF ALBANY !!!!! YOU ARE SO FABULOUS!!!!

    • Snailracer says:

      Do the ‘woke’ tyrants care about why they were hired by Albany voters in the first place, like for example, oh I don’t know, repairing the city’s ubiquitous potholes? NOPE!
      How about reducing ‘their’ increased franchise fees? NOPE!
      Or actually _lowering_ Albany’s property taxes? NOPE!!

  2. Bill Kapaun says:

    I hope lots of you show up at the next meeting with your own personal “Agenda Flags” and DEMAND they also be flown.

  3. Gordon L. Shadle says:

    As a transitioning progressive I support flying the symbol of LGBTQ+ inclusion, diversity, and social justice.

    I think the council should take the next step and make everyone salute this flag before every meeting.

    GAPS should do the same in every classroom every morning.

    Some viewpoints, and people, are more equal than others and must be imposed on the hoi polloi. It’s the progressive way.

    • Chris says:

      As a parent of a student in the Albany School District I ask that you keep your sick and twisted ideals out of our schools and keep them to yourself. There is no place for that in our schools or our community period!!

    • Nick says:

      Some things were supposed to be left unsaid and bringing that kind of stuff into schools is one of them

      • thomas earl cordier says:

        You don’t or did not recognize Gordon wrote his piece in jest to poke fun at the whole idea of posting the flag. The other point is that Gov. Kotek’s Education Dept already has placed the DEI pride crap in the schools.

  4. Mac says:

    This is what they feel is important city business? Ridiculous.

  5. Pat says:

    There should only be two flags over our City Hall. U.S.A and the Oregon flags. Sorry, but the LBGQT+ is not supported by the majority of Albany and for the City Council to move forward with this idea, does not represent me, or I feel, the largest majority of this good City. Mrs. Montague is push HER own agenda.

  6. Susan Sanders says:

    My thought is… US and Oregon flag only!

  7. Zee says:

    The vast majority of Albany citizenry is suffering from “LGBTQ+ FATIGUE”….

  8. thomas earl cordier says:

    I hope Smith was the one no vote. Montague is a disgrace to this city.–pushing this pea uphill as an affront to many. Our new Pope has called for Peace but no, can’t miss an opportunity pick the scab.

  9. Rick Paye says:

    What you have is a few on that City Council that support these sickO’s put it to the vote of the people not just a few on the council you will find they’re not wanted why don’t they go somewhere start their own community just like the rajneese did and stay in their own lane quit pushing your sick shit on us go away

    • Rachel LaBrasseur says:

      I am shocked Hasso let your comment through! Usually I never see cussing in the comments!

    • Debbie says:

      You need to calm down and let people lead their own life. They aren’t breaking the law, they just want to have the right to be happy like anyone else. If homosexuality is something that is threatening to you, too bad, you don’t have the right to force your religious beliefs on everyone else. Live and let live in harmony.

      • Bill Kapaun says:

        ….”you don’t have the right to force your religious beliefs on everyone else. ….”

        And neither do you or the City! Typical leftist hypocrite.

        • Oscar says:

          ”you don’t have the right to force your religious beliefs on everyone else. ….”

          I take it you’re not an Evangelical Christian.

          • Bill Kapaun says:

            Well Oscar, who is too cowardly to use your last name, it’s none of your business.

      • Loulou says:

        Live & let live, we shouldn’t be forced to support the gay flag. I say no to flying the pride flag. Only flags should be the American flag & Oregon flag. I have nothing against gay people. They can fly the pride flag at home.

        • DCDub says:

          Now Loulou, you should KNOW that using logic like this is totally against what the LGBTQRSTUVWXYZ+ people adhere to. I for one pray that opinions like yours will actually become the prevailing ones in the days, weeks, months, and years ahead. WELL DONE!

  10. Chris says:

    American flag and Oregon flag!
    No need for anything else.

  11. CommonSenseOregonian says:

    I have Gay friends and quite frankly, they are fed up with this “in your face” LGBTQ activism. They just want to live their life like the rest of us. But oh no…the liberals that get elected need to cram their agenda down the throats of the majority. Fact is, we can all live in peace without all this activism. You are gay? You are trans? I don’t care! I will drink coffee with you any day. But you push crap like this through, you are harming your own “agenda”. These Council Members did not deserve election and should not be re-elected.

  12. chris j says:

    Respect in general is lacking in Albany. Just focusing on specific groups in itself is leaving others out. The go-to practice of the city is to take advantage of any minority opportunity to make money whether it hurts anyone or businesses, that includes the LGBTQ+ community. Flying a flag would just be insulting to them and everyone else that is deserving of respect. No one should have to declare anything to anyone to be respected.

  13. Dan Shaeffer says:

    What is wrong with government in this state? It starts with school boards, city counsel all the way up the food chain to the governor. Totally out of touch. We need responsible change.

  14. Kent says:

    Nobody cares who you like to have sex with as long as it’s legal and consenting. Stop advertising your sexuality. Let’s move on this is so passé.

  15. Susan Tedisch says:

    No absolutely NO, why are they special. Being an American and Oregonian is enough. Do I wave a flag in your face about being straight? No I don’t. Move to Corvallis or Portland if you want to flaunt yourself as being different.

  16. RICH KELLUM says:

    Isn”t the POW?MIA flag mandated by State Law, and the only reason that it was not flying is that the pole is too short………….. What?? we will now mandate a different flag in opposition to state law??

    • Bill Kapaun says:

      ABSOLUTELY! Let them pay their own fines.

      https://oregon.public.law/statutes/ors_186.110

      • RICH KELLUM says:

        ORS 186.110
        Display of state flag and POW/MIA flag on public buildings
        Text
        Annotations
        (1)The person or body having custody of each public building shall procure an Oregon State flag of suitable size and a National League of Families’ POW/MIA flag of suitable size and shall cause the Oregon State flag and the POW/MIA flag to be displayed with the United States flag upon or near the public building during the hours when the United States flag is customarily displayed, except in unsuitable weather, and at such other times as seems proper.
        (2)Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section, this section requires the procurement and display of a National League of Families’ POW/MIA flag only with respect to a public building that has existing flagpoles or other infrastructure installed to properly display all three flags described in this section simultaneously, except that:
        (a)Any public building described in subsection (3)(a), (b) or (c) of this section that is newly constructed after January 1, 2016, shall include sufficient infrastructure to properly display all three flags simultaneously; and
        (b)Any public building described in subsection (3)(d) of this section that is newly constructed on or after January 1, 2018, shall include sufficient infrastructure to properly display all three flags simultaneously.
        (3)As used in this section, “public building” means:
        (a)State institutions.
        (b)All other state buildings upon which the Oregon Department of Administrative Services determines it is suitable to display the Oregon State flag and the National League of Families’ POW/MIA flag.
        (c)County courthouses.
        (d)All other county, municipal, school district and special district buildings upon which or near which it is customary and suitable to display the United States flag. [1953 c.474 §§1,2; 2015 c.185 §1; 2017 c.269 §1]

        • Bill Kapaun says:

          I would have copied & pasted that, but thought it was too long for Hasso to accept.

          The key part is the word MUNICIPAL in 3(d) That supersedes any building construction dates.

          Flying any flag more prominently than the 3 listed is an obvious violation of the intent of the law. If there’s not room for 3 flags, there obviously isn’t room for 4.

  17. Mary kune says:

    Everyone is going crazy. Protest..vote no. Let POTUS know.

  18. Mike quinn says:

    The mayor could veto this but he won’t ,

  19. Terry Bushnell says:

    Why won’t the mayor veto it. It shouldn’t be flown. The U.S. flag stands for our people country and America. Since they won’t fly the MIA flag which is state law, why should the pride flag be flown. It shouldn’t What have they done for america? Nothing but cause conflict.

  20. Stan michaels says:

    ⁶there is a local school board election coming, i already know the good and faithful republicans are going to get this one right, right?

  21. Bret Johnson says:

    This is completely out of touch with reality, American flag and Oregon flag and POW flag! See you at the council meeting tomorrow! Bret Johnson

  22. Bill Kapaun says:

    “At the time, there was talk about the flag pole being too short to accommodate a third banner below the American and Oregon state flags. Any flag hung below those two would likely snag on the City Hall roof.”

    So, why not install a taller flagpole or move the existing one? It’s really not that tall or special of a flagpole.

    • Thomas says:

      “So, why not install a taller flagpole or move the existing one? It’s really not that tall or special of a flagpole.”

      If they do either of those you’ll just cry about your tax dollars being wasted.

  23. Bill says:

    It went from gay marriage for medical insurance and “family” status in the event their “partner” became hospitalized – they wanted equality and promised “Don’t ask – don’t tell”
    After which came “Drag Queen Story Hour” at schools and public libraries. and “FLYING A PRIDE FLAG” over city halls and court houses FOR AN ENTIRE MONTH !!!

    Many Americans of all races and creeds have MUCH to be proud of but only recently did sexual identity become one of them! Sickening! I don’t care and don’t want to know. Please don’t make a spectacle of your sexual preferences and I’ll do the same!

  24. VJBow says:

    I have several longtime friends who are gay without making an issue of it. They’re not interested in having a Gay Pride flag flown in their honor. My Uncle was a POW for 4 years during World War II. Once released, he finished his life working as a farmer. He had suffered enormously and was nearly starved to death during his capture. So it was decided we can’t fit a POW or MIA flag on the pole with our US and State flags, but Albany’s City Council members will be voting on whether or not to fly a Gay Pride flag in front of our City Hall?!!! This seems ungrateful and unfair!

  25. Larry says:

    No one wants this. Time to get this city back to what the citizens want. Time to vote all of these people out.

  26. thomas earl cordier says:

    I just watched the A/V where the resolution was adopted. Interesting there was a handout on the dais in front of all Councilors the whole meeting. So they all collaborated with this sneak attack on the public. Albany’s version of transparency and democracy
    is corrupt. Shame on all including Mayor

  27. chris j says:

    There isn’t enough problems in Albany that never get addressed but they care about who people are attracted to. I think it might be some form of diversion to draw attention away from some other unwelcome project they want to slip by us. Do you think they would address all of our concerns if we all said we questioned our sexuality? lol The city really has damaged their rep concerning trust. The city’s in your face actions have definitely stepped over the line.

  28. Al Nyman says:

    You could all reside in Providence, RI where they are going to raise a Palestinian flag for a country that has never been recognized. The progressive liberals have gone off the rails.

  29. Mike quinn says:

    The city council, minus Marylin,are worried about flying a pride flag while our United States is in protocol decay , which means when a flag starts to come undone it should be properly retired, citizens of Albany go to city hall plaza and check out top of flag,I even asked if I could buy a new flag, and as usual no reply, they just keep to their agenda, thanks goes to Marylin, as she seemed to be the only person listening to public comments

    • CatlessChildLady says:

      Multiple councilors addressed your remarks during their time to speak at the end of the meeting, but you had left by then. There should be a new one up today they said.

    • Mike quinn says:

      My comment was not printed right it said when our United States flag is in protocol decay it needs to be replace, but we’re to worried about a pride flag to install a flag that is not tattered

  30. Jim Saemenes says:

    Based on the statute quoted above the City council must respect the law of this state. No flag other than the three mentioned is allowed. End of story! No need for a vote. No other flag can be flown.

    • CatlessChildLady says:

      That’s not what it says. Read it again. The city attorney confirmed the interpretation of the language used.

      • Bill Kapaun says:

        This City Attorney does what they want. He’s the one that told them to FEE us to death because we are allowed to vote on a TAX. Where have you been?

        • Oscar says:

          You should run for office. Then you’d be in a position to bring about the changes you’d like to see. Wouldn’t that be better than simply coming on here day after day and whining?

 

 
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