Pride flag flying at Biloxi VA causing controversy

A Pride flag flying at the Biloxi VA entrance creates controversy among citizens.

On Friday, Congressman Mike Ezell said in his weekly newsletter that he penned a letter to the VA Secretary and the interim director for the medical center asking that the Pride flag be taken down.

Ezell said he didn’t think it was appropriate to fly flags that had a political or social agenda.

On Monday, the flag was still flying at the VA and protestors demonstrated at the flag poles. Protestor Angie Lamey said, “He is not compliant to the wishes of the congressman, and we are also very concerned about our flags being taken down and another flag being replaced on that flag pole, so that’s why we’re out here. We’re standing for our nation, for our flag, and those who died for that flag.”

Army Veteran Mendon Weidner said the VA does a good job of trying to unify the branches of military service, but be believes flying the Pride flag is divisive. “When you do this, all you’re doing is just dividing, and with these graves in the background, you don’t need this kind of divide right here, but I want to be respectful to it. I’m not here in opposition of the Pride flag in any way. I’m just here saying there’s only a certain few flags that should be up there.”

Shaun Shenk with Community Relations at the VA said he is a veteran and he said flying the Pride flag shows that the VA is there for everyone. “I can’t tell you how proud I am that the veterans I served next to that identify as LGBTQ are recognized and are welcomed here at the VA. It’s extremely important that we understand that more than a million veterans come to the VA and identify as LGBTQ, and they have a right to get all the health care services they have earned.”