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Waterford TD condemns those behind Pride flag attacks as more to be erected on Monday

Waterford TD condemns those behind Pride flag attacks as more to be erected on Monday

The Minister for Equality Roderic O'Gorman will travel to Waterford City on Monday to get behind the re-raising of the pride flags.
It's after flags outside Waterford Council buildings on the Mall were burned twice in the past week.
An LGBTQ+ group in Waterford is asking the public to get behind them and help get the Déise covered in the Pride flag.
Debbie O'Rourke from Pride of the Déise says they're determined to paint the city with the rainbow and have set up flag collection points at John Roberts Square and Poleberry today.
She also stressed the negative impact the burning of those flags can have on people coming to terms with their sexuality and gender identity:
"It can push them further back into the closet and that's not what we want. We're trying to create and build a community here in Waterford that is very accepting. That's the reality.
"This is getting a lot of attention but the reality is that Waterford is a very safe and accepting city. And that's being show in people's responses in wanting to support us."
Meanwhile, Green Party TD for Waterford, Marc Ó Cathasaigh also voiced his strong condemnation of the actions of those who both destroyed the flags and subsequently put up the 'Straight Pride' posters in the city.
He told Damien Tiernan this morning that this sort of bigotry is not representative of the great people of this county:
"Let's call a spade a spade here. What we're seeing is a far-right dog whistle with these posters.
"... Those values of inclusivity and respect for everybody, those are being rejected by a small minority. I'm not for that.
"I was actually thinking about it - the most Waterford thing we have actually comes from a minority that arrived in Waterford because they were persecuted. The Huguenots.
"They came and they brought the bla with them. That's the kind of tradition we're proud of in Waterford, and that's the Waterford that I'm proud to be a part of."

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