THE decision for Redland City Council to fly the Rainbow Flag outside of its Cleveland administration building for one day next year has been reversed after a meeting held earlier this week.
In August 2024, an application was made to Council by members of the Southern Moreton Bay Islands (SMBI) Queer Community Facebook group to fly the flag, a symbol of LGBTIQA+ pride and social movements, on May 17, 2025, to recognise International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT).
Celebrated on May 17 each year, IDAHOBIT marks the date in 1990 that homosexuality was removed from the World Health Organisation’s Classification of Diseases.
Redland City Council responded to the applicant on September 30, stating: “The Redland City Council is committed to diversity and inclusion and one of our goals is to raise awareness, assign accountability and creating momentum for action.
“Thank you for raising the matter with me and we will arrange for the Rainbow Flag to be flown on 17 May 2025.”
An enquiry made by Redland City News to Redland City Council confirmed that Council would arrange for the Rainbow Flag to be flown on May 17, 2025, outside of Council’s Administration Building in Cleveland, a decision supported by Mayor Jos Mitchell.
A meeting held on Monday, November 5, however, has seen that decision reversed, with a Redland City Council spokesperson stating “national flag protocols” wouldn’t enable the flying of the flag.
“Redland City Council is committed to diversity and inclusion and wanted to embrace the opportunity to raise the IDAHOBIT flag in May 2025, yet have determined national flag protocols we adhere to don’t enable it,” the spokesperson said.
“Council is exploring other opportunities to mark the day, which could include lighting up the Cleveland Lighthouse in rainbow colours.
“We acknowledge this may be disappointing for the Redlands and SMBI LGBITQA+ community and apologise that we can’t action this request as we initially hoped.”
SMBI resident Robin Bristow played a key role in the initial Council application said the reversal of its decision has come as a “big surprise”.“
A lot of younger members of the LGBTIQA+ need positive signals from organisations such as councils to show that they are included, and this is very disappointing as it sends the wrong signal to younger, vulnerable people,” he said.
In 2016, Brisbane City Council became the first local government in Queensland to publicly support the legalisation of marriage between consenting adults regardless of gender, sexuality or gender identity, and marks IDAHOBIT Day annually by raising the rainbow flag.
“I think they (Redland City Council) need to reverse their decision and fly the flag, and any additional displays are welcome,” Mr Bristow said.
”Fellow SMBI resident Molley Prall said that as a newly-out queer person, she would restrict herself to spending time in places that were clearly welcoming to members of the LGBTIQA+ community. “
“Moving to Russell Island at the start of this year and spending so much time all around Redland Bay has clearly been the right move for me and I love it here, but the lack of queer inclusion in some professional and public spaces is daunting.”
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