Neighbourhood supports Aldergrove woman whose pride flags were taken down

LANGLEY (NEWS 1130) — A woman in Aldergrove is getting showered with support from her neighbours after her pride flag was mistakenly taken down by Township of Langley staff last week.

Several homes along the suburban street have now hung up their own rainbow flags after one resident complained to the Township that Lisa Ebenal’s display was on public land, and the flag was taken down. The flag, however, was on Ebenal’s private property.

Neighbours now say they have put up their own flags to make sure LGBTQ people feel welcome.

Siblings Kyla and Tyler Prest say that is what motivated them to put the flag up at their home.

Kyla says just because someone doesn’t like the flag doesn’t mean they should try to prevent it from being displayed.

“I thought it was pretty rude that they would do that, and I felt like we should all come together and support people that are discriminated against,” she says.

For her, the rainbow flag represents everyone, and that raising it is a message of support for the community.

RELATED: Pride flag at Ladner church defaced a second time

Her brother Tyler says Kyla put the flag up for Pride month, and isn’t too happy with the neighbour who made the initial complaint.

“It’s kind of embarrassing to whoever took the flag down in the first place because it just shows that they’re a hater,” he says. “I don’t know what the thoughts are on gay people in this community, all I know is that now people hanging up the flags, it just shows the support the neighbourhood has for it.

He says having the flag up at his home makes him feel good, and glad he’s able to support his LGBTQ neighbours.

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Ebenal first hung the flag last week, but it was quickly stolen by an unknown person. When she hung a second flag on a sign on her property, Township staff came and removed it, saying someone had complained the flag was on public land. The flag was over a sign that marks the entrance of the community, but it is on private property.

“It’s clearly in my yard, and it’s clearly part of my property, so there’s no way they could mistake that for public property,” Ebenal said.

The township returned one of her flags and apologized, but it’s unknown where the other went.

Lisa Ebenal said she continues to receive support from the LGBTQ+ community and has been invited as a guest of honour to this summer’s Pride Parade in Vancouver. She will march with Pflag Canada.

This year’s parade is on Aug. 4.

With files from David Zura, Taran Parmar