Angry delegates disrupted Windsor's city council meeting Monday after the council decided to defer the report on changing the city's flag policy.
The report recommends changing the policy to limit flag raisings to government and civic displays. It also makes exemptions to recognize "a significant event or activity sponsored or supported by the City."
"This is about trying to really find a way to deal with some of the issues that have come up that have nothing to do with Pride or LGBTQ. These are issues that come up over time where the city is put in a position where they have to make very uncomfortable decisions or decisions that relate to international diplomatic affairs," said Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens.
Once a deferral is requested, there is no discussion or delegates heard on the topic.
Once the deferral was approved, an audience member chanted "shame" and called council "homophobic" for not allowing the delegates to speak before being escorted out of the council chambers.
"They have nothing to worry about. It doesn't change. Under any of the policies, the amended policy as presented by the city today, the federal government or the provincial government, the [Pride Flag] continues to be flown," said Dilkens.
Council decided to defer the proposal and seek clearer language in line with the provincial or federal flag policy.
"Our staff here, they don't have the knowledge or the capacity to identify diplomatic relations, so it's right that we try to find a way to align ourselves with either the federal government flag policy or the provincial government flag policy. But either of those policies still allows the LGBTQ flag to be flown," said Dilkens.
The issue will be brought back to council at a later meeting.