Stefano and Aaron received a letter in their mailbox this week, in which they were kindly requested on behalf of Rituals’ neighbors to remove their pride flag from their balcony. An incomprehensible request according to the men: “How can you sail during Pride Amsterdam and now ask this?”
Stefano and Aaron sit on the couch in their apartment on Reguliersdwarsstraat and read the letter they received from the manager of their rental property. “Rituals has contacted us about the flag on your balcony, which is seen as an annoyance, mainly due to its size. We therefore kindly ask that you remove the flag from your balcony.”
Stefano and Aaron’s flag is attached to their own balcony and, according to the men, also serves as a privacy screen. This can be seen from the Rituals office, on the other side of the courtyard. According to a spokesperson for the Woonbond, residents are free to hang a flag like this on their own balcony.
The letter that Aaron and Stefano received states that the flag is seen by Rituals as too large and not modest. After several questions, Rituals wants AT5 not substantively comment on what exactly the company considers immodest or undesirable about the Pride flag. Rituals does say that it strongly supports the message behind the flag.
Painful
“I think it is a painful request,” says Aaron. “I also don’t understand what their annoyance is. I think it’s just that they can see the flag. What I find extra difficult is that this company happily participates in Pride in the summer, but has a visible flag from their courtyard doesn’t seem to be able to handle it.”
Stefano adds: “I think it would be a good statement if Rituals showed that they supported the Pride flag. And not just during the Pride weeks.”
Are the men thinking of hanging a smaller flag? “Absolutely not,” says Aaron. “Rather a bigger one. So we can show them and the neighbors: We are here and we are queer. And we’re not going anywhere.”
2023-10-28 05:07:55
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