Asheville Council Flies Rainbow Flag
816 views · Published 20 November 2014 · 2:26 · Indexed 20 September 2026
Channel: WLOS News 13 · 2014 · News & Politics
ASHEVILLE, N.C. -- Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer said she and the entire city council agreed placing the rainbow flag, also known as the Gay pride flag, on City Hall downtown Thursday was the right thing to do. "The council decided we should fly the flag," said Manheimer. "Some people call it the rainbow flag or the freedom flag, to show our support for this monumental moment in North Carolina history." The federal judge in Greensboro had yet to make the final ruling Thursday to allow same sex marriage. But Manheimer said she expected Buncombe County's Record of Deeds to issue same sex marriage licenses by Monday. Manheimer said the huge flag that was donated to the city for use, sends a message. "The majority of Asheville's population is supportive of marriage equality," said Manheimer. "I think this is amazing that we have a liberal council that would take an advocacy position like this as elected officials," said Carl Mumpower who served on Asheville's Council in the early 2000s. "Can you imagine if we had seven confederates, and if they wanted to put a confederate flag up there how wrong that would be," said Mumpower. "Or me, as a christian, if we had seven christians who said let's put a christian flag up there." Alan Glines, a 17-year employee of the city said, for him, the flag had tremendous meaning. "I feel excited about it," said Glines. "I've worked of the city 17 years, and we expect Asheville to be in the forefront of change and welcoming diversity. So, this is something that represents that when I see it up there." Mayor Manheimer said the flag will remain up through Friday. by Kimberly King Follow Kim on Twitter @KimKingReports _______________ Follow WLOS on social media: WLOS ABC 13 News on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/News13/ WLOS ABC 13 News on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WLOS_13 WLOS ABC 13 News on Instagram: https://instagram.com/wlos_13 Subscribe to WLOS on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ABC13Channel/?sub_confirmation=1 Listen to AnchorMOMS, the Podcast: https://wlos.com/news/anchormoms/anchormoms-the-podcast Watch more top local news stories: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kk8Ge6UXHJs&list=PLkVbaoT-aYbIvnEpR0Ct5QQQqYaORUSUH For all of the day’s top local and national news, visit http://www.wlos.com Watch our live newscasts and other live video at https://wlos.com/watch Have a news tip? Send it directly to us: Email us: [email protected] Call the Newsroom: 828.684.1340 WLOS ABC 13 News serves the Asheville, NC area and the rest of western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina. We keep our audience informed through local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, notices of community events, sports and entertainment programming since 1954.
