A routine Select Board meeting in Medfield turned into a flashpoint this week after a board member described the Pride flag as “a really corrupt symbol,” stunning neighbors who had asked the town to raise the rainbow banner on municipal buildings next year. The request did not get a vote, and officials said they will revisit Medfield’s flag rules in the coming year, leaving residents frustrated and the issue very much unresolved.
What Was Said at the Meeting
During Tuesday night’s discussion, Select Board member Gus Murby argued that Medfield should “focus on actions” instead of symbols, saying the town’s current flag policy “has served the town well.” He said he would be open to “concrete actions” that “really accomplish something,” but called the Pride flag a “polarizing symbol” and “a really corrupt symbol,” according to CBS Boston.
Neighbors Lauren Zembron and Sarah Zitoli - who organized a letter asking the board to fly a Pride flag for Pride Month beginning next year - told the outlet that Murby’s language was “alarming” and “really shocking.” They said the comments left them feeling unwelcome but added they plan to keep pressing for the flag to be raised.
Town Flag Policy
Medfield’s written rules for municipal displays, adopted by the Board of Selectmen in 2021, leave little wiggle room. The policy states: “The American Flag, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Town of Medfield Flags are the only flags approved for Town Property.” Board members cited that rule while weighing the Pride flag request.
The “Municipal Flags, Signage, and Displays on Town Property” policy is posted on the town website and explains when municipal poles may be used, according to the official document from the Town of Medfield.
Local Reaction and Next Steps
One Select Board member described the idea of flying a Pride flag as a good one, but Murby repeatedly pointed back to the current policy and urged a focus on concrete programs rather than symbolic displays. Reporters attempted to reach Murby for further comment but did not hear back, and another board member said the group will “look into changing the flag policy next year,” according to CBS Boston.
Where This Fits in Statewide Debates
Across Massachusetts and the rest of the country, local governments have been wrestling with a basic question: Should town flagpoles be reserved strictly for official government flags, or also be used to signal support for specific causes and communities?
A recent report in The Boston Globe detailed a series of municipal flag disputes that pushed cities and towns to tighten their policies in order to avoid the appearance of endorsing private viewpoints.
Supporters behind Medfield’s Pride flag request say they plan to keep showing up at meetings and advocating for recognition as the Select Board prepares to review the policy in the year ahead. For now, the rules remain unchanged, but the fight over a single piece of cloth has exposed a deeper divide over how small towns handle civic symbols and community inclusion.
