Citizens of a small Alberta town voted to ban gay pride flags and rainbow-colored crosswalks in a referendum Thursday.
Contrary to the advice of the mayor and his councilors, 51% of the 1,302 residents of Westlock, a community of 4,800 north of Edmonton, who came to the vote chose to ban the city from flying the Pride flag.
According to the proposals adopted, the city will now have to be content with flying its municipal flag, that of the province and that of the country, on its poles and no other. Pedestrian crossing lines must be painted white.
According to the Edmonton Journal, the proposals voted on by residents Thursday were put forward in response to an initiative by the local Gay-Straight Alliance, which persuaded the city last summer to repaint one of its crosswalks in Pride colors cancel.
The referendum was decided by a difference of just 24 votes, leaving the city divided in two.
“We understand that many of you are disappointed with the result of the referendum,” the city commented on its Facebook page on Friday, stating that the council had unsuccessfully sought legal avenues to prevent the vote.
However, the city assured that it would look for ways to continue supporting the LGBTQ+ community.