Tea Party Republican complains that LGBT flag creates ‘hostile work environment
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A Hillsborough County, Florida commissioner is against flying the rainbow flag outside a public facility.
Commissioner Stacy White, a Tea Party Republican, called for a meeting to consider removing the flag, which was raised outside the Hillsborough County Center on Wednesday in the aftermath of the mass shooting attack in Orlando.
White was not present when the commission voted 5-1 to raise the flag through the end of the month, which sees LGBT Pride celebrations around the country. But he sent an email to Peggy Rowe, the county’s human resources director, saying that it was a “divisive, politically-charged symbol” and that it could create a liability issue for the county.
“My office recently received an anonymous phone call from a county employee stating that, because of her strong Christian beliefs, it will be nearly unbearable for her pass the ‘pride’ flag each morning as she enters the workplace,” White wrote. “She clearly indicated that the display of that flag, for her, has created a hostile work environment.”
County Administrator Mike Merrill responded in a memo on Thursday saying that he was unaware of objections from any county employee prior to the vote for raising the flag.
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