Statement in response to Barnsley Council's refusal to raise pride flag during Pride Month
Friday 5th June 2026 | Macauley Jacobson
The refusal by Barnsley Council to raise the Pride flag during Pride Month is more than a disappointing decision - it is a painful rejection of a community that has spent generations fighting simply to be treated with equal dignity and respect.
For LGBTQ+ people, the Pride flag is not just a piece of fabric. It is a symbol of survival. It represents those who endured discrimination, abuse, isolation, and injustice so that future generations could live more freely and openly. It honours lives lost, battles won, and the ongoing struggle for equality. To refuse to fly that flag during Pride Month sends a message, whether intended or not, that those stories, those sacrifices, and those people matter less.
At a time when LGBTQ+ individuals continue to face prejudice, hate, and discrimination, visible acts of support are not meaningless gestures - they are powerful statements that everyone belongs. Raising the Pride flag costs nothing, but its absence can speak volumes. It can leave people feeling unseen, unsupported, and excluded by the very institutions that are supposed to represent and serve them.
Barnsley is home to LGBTQ+ residents, workers, parents, children, friends, and neighbours. They contribute to every part of community life. They deserve to know that their council stands with them, not at arm's length from them. Pride Month is an opportunity to celebrate diversity, affirm inclusion, and send a clear message that everyone is welcome. Refusing to raise the flag is a missed opportunity to show compassion, leadership, and solidarity.
The Pride flag does not take rights away from anyone. It does not divide communities. It stands for the simple belief that every human being deserves to be treated with respect, regardless of who they are or who they love. Choosing not to fly it during Pride Month feels like turning away from that principle.
Many people in Barnsley will look at this decision and feel hurt. They will wonder why a symbol of inclusion was considered too much to display. They will question why, in 2026, recognising and supporting LGBTQ+ residents remains a point of hesitation rather than a point of pride.
A truly inclusive community does not stay silent when people ask to be seen. It raises them up. It stands beside them. And during Pride Month, it flies the flag that says, clearly and proudly: you belong here too.
Barnsley Pride Board of Trustees
Pam, Community Engagement and Outreach Lead for Barnsley Pride added:
"I'm disappointed by this decision, not because of politics, but because inclusion matters. The Pride flag represented a visible message to many people that they were welcome, seen and valued in their community.
I acknowledge the decision. I hope we can learn from the conversations it creates. And I hope we continue to grow towards a society where everyone feels they belong."
