Pride banner campaign raising rainbows across Calderdale surpasses £8,000

The collection – started after Calderdale Reform refused to fly the Pride flag during Pride Month – has funded 30 Pride banners which have been installed all over the borough.

As well as paying for the banners themselves, the money raised has paid for Calderdale Council advertising space so they can be hung legally.

Organisers say the banners have been installed by the same company used by the council for its own campaigns, such as Culturedale and fostering awareness.

The fundraiser was launched earlier this month to show support for LGBTQ+ inclusion by acting as a visible marker of safety, solidarity and allyship.

The banners also include a QR code which people can use to report hate crime.

Money raised over what was needed for the banners will be donated to one or more of local LGBTQ+ organisations, say organisers.

Councillor Sarah Courtney (Labour, Hebden Bridge and Todmorden East) is among those who led the collection.

She has posted: “Thank you, people. I'm proud and humbled in equal measure to be part of the wonderful, diverse mix of humans who make up our LGBTQ+ communities.”

To add to the fund, visit: www.gofundme.com/f/raise-a-rainbow-across-calderdale

The Courier previously reported how Calderdale Reform – which now runs the council – had announced on social media it would have Pride banners and flags which have appeared on Calderdale street furniture removed and “take legal actions”.

The party posted: “Thank you to all those who have contacted us, regarding the Pride banners/flags which have appeared across Calderdale on street furniture.

“We will be moving to immediately remove the flags and take legal actions against those responsible, in order to recoup the removal costs.”

Their announcement came soon after the legally-installed Pride banners appeared but it is not clear whether the party was referring to these banners or several Pride flags which appeared on lamp posts near Halifax Town Hall and Shibden Hall after the refusal to fly the Pride flag during Pride Month – or both.

The Courier has requested clarification and also asked the council to confirm whether the same action will be taken to remove and recoup costs regarding England and Union flags which were installed on lamp posts all over the borough last summer.

In response, a Calderdale Council spokesperson said only: “The council did not approve installation of these banners.”

As of Monday, June 29, the Pride banners and the Pride flags on lamp posts were still in place.

Calderdale Reform identified flag-flying as one of its first priorities to address when it took over the running of the council in May, with Calderdale Mayor Andrew Tagg – a Reform councillor – approving the flying of the Union flag above Halifax Town Hall every day of the year.

One of the party’s first announcements after taking office was that they would review the council’s flag-flying policy, pledging: “We will put an end to past administration's flying of foreign flags and symbols of division.”

Calderdale Council’s governance and business committee has recommended a new protocol for flags flown above council buildings be approved when it is considered by full council later this month.

There have previously been several designated days for flags to be flown above Halifax Town Hall, including the King’s birthday and St George’s Day.

The revised list is similar to the previous one but with three omissions – International Day of Transgender Visibility, International Day against Homophobia and White Ribbon Day, which campaigns to reduce violence against women and girls.

The policy allows for requests for other flags to be flown, following steps at the end of which the leader of the council, Reform UK’s Coun Daniel Sutherland, will make the decision.