Boonton council declines Pride flag raising and Pride Month proclamation, drawing strong public reaction

Boonton Mayor and Town Council on June 7, 2025, moved to accept a written request from Boonton Rainbow Pride into the meeting record but declined to authorize a Pride flag raising or to issue a mayoral proclamation recognizing Pride Month, prompting extended, emotional public comment from residents and activists.

The item began when members of Boonton Rainbow Pride asked the governing body to fly the Pride flag at one or two town locations and for a mayor-and-council proclamation in honor of Pride Month. Legal counsel advised a council member with a family connection to the request to recuse from the discussion; the member recused.

Mayor Lynch explained that a town flag ordinance limits flags on municipal property and said he has maintained a policy since taking office not to issue proclamations except in limited, meritorious cases. "Proclamations are at the discretion of the mayor and I'm going to stick with my policy," he said, adding that he preferred to accept the group's letter into the record without taking further action.

Residents and community leaders disagreed. "Pride flag is not a political symbol. It's a symbol of inclusion, dignity, and acknowledgement," read one written correspondent circulated at the meeting. Ruan Hetrickch, who identified themself as a youth services librarian, warned that silence can enable harm and cited national trends: "As of May 23, 2025, the ACLU has tracked 588 anti-LGBTQ+ bills that have been introduced across the United States," they said.

Other speakers described local impacts from the council's prior changes to flag policy and called for a public show of support. "This proclamation would be a small but potentially powerful statement letting everyone know — not here, not in Boonton," one council ally said during member remarks. Multiple public commenters said businesses and residents in town already display pride messages and urged the council to align municipal signals with community practice.

Opponents and some board members said the issue raises questions about setting a precedent for municipal flag-raising. One resident argued that flag policy should be narrowly applied to certain governmental flags and cautioned against an expansive approach to requests for municipal displays.

The council did not vote to authorize a flag raising or issue a proclamation; the mayor's motion to accept the correspondence without further action carried. The meeting record includes several written letters read into the record both supporting and opposing the request. Council members and staff said public safety and order around events would continue to be supported regardless of the proclamation decision.

The council is expected to hear related public feedback at future meetings; Boonton Rainbow Pride plans a community event on June 21 and invited council members to attend.