NJ parents say town should show more support for Pride Month

CEDAR GROVE, N.J. (PIX11) -- Parents in Cedar Grove, N.J., are upset their elected officials are not doing more to show support during Pride Month.

They said it was a battle just to fly Pride flags outside schools, and that this was a separate decision made by the Superintendent and Board of Education.

The Pride flag is absent this year at Cedar Grove’s Panther Park, where it’s flown during previous Pride Months.

Resident Christine Dye, whose daughter is part of the LGBTQ+ community, emailed Mayor Kerry Peterson to ask why and was told no one requested it.

“I think it’s a little bit ridiculous and I think they did it purposely not to have to fly the pride flag,” said Dye.

When reached for comment, Cedar Grove Mayor Kerry Peterson explained in detail the township’s flag policy:

As with all other organizations who wish to exercise their free speech to support a variety of causes on the Township’s flagpole at Panther Park, consistent with the Township’s flag policy adopted on August 9, 2021, these organizations submit their request, in writing, to the Township Manager for approval. To date, no organization has applied to fly a flag on the pole at Panther Park for the month of June. This policy is on a first come, first serve basis and the Township will provide assistance in affixing the flag to the pole if the organization purchases the flag. After the month’s end, it is the organization’s responsibility to remove their flag.

Peterson said the township has not been contacted to hang a flag or to hold a ceremony. She said the onus is on residents or groups to contact the township for either. She said they are happy to comply, and that it is an equitable process to all organizations.Mayor Peterson went on to write:

While I have not received any complaints about students feeling unsafe, despite the pride flag being raised at every school, there is no circumstance that a student should feel unwelcome… [if anyone] would like to raise the flag, the Township would be happy to facilitate and support it.

“It shouldn’t have to be a request for an organization or anything like that,” said Dye. “It’s Pride Month. Everybody celebrates Pride Month. They celebrate it on Sesame Street.”

Chris Cannella is a teacher in Cedar Grove and the chair of the New Jersey Education Association’s Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Committee.

"Just seeing that flag tells them that people really do care about them, and then when you take that away, it hurts,” said Cannella.

Cedar Grove previously made headlines in 2022, for initially cancelling a high-school production of ‘The Prom,’ which tells the story of a lesbian student banned from bringing her girlfriend to prom. The school board reversed its decision following backlash.

The ACLU also called out Cedar Grove Public Library in 2023 for restricting access to the LGBTQ+ memoir Gender Queer. It was moved from the Young Adult to Adult section.

Dye wants Cedar Grove to follow the lead of neighboring towns like Verona, Montclair, and Little Falls, which all held Pride Month ceremonies.

“I really hope the town council would reconsider and do what all these other towns around us are going,” said Dye. “They’re recognizing Pride Month, they’re raising the flag, and they’re doing the right thing.”