Pride flags at Hillsborough, North Carolina in June 2021HILLSBOROUGH (N.C.) On the first of June, I was walking my dog out my front door and made a sharp left at the corner to see a huge Pride flag fluttering in the morning breeze. Later that day, I walked downtown and saw a total 30 flags of different colors being raised high on lamp posts in our direction.The ubiquitous Pride flags swaying over local shops, pharmacies, and chocolate shops overwhelmed me as a gay man. Allan Gurganus (the gay author of "Oldest Confederate Widow tells All"), is the most prominent person in our town. He told me that he felt surprised, moved and proud. This is not San Francisco, but a village in the south with 7,000 people.We are not West Hollywood, Castro, or Provincetown. Hillsborough, which dates back as far as the Revolutionary War, but that does not include the history of Occaneechi Tribe who settled the area around 1676, is perhaps best known for being Chapel Hill's quiet neighbor, our annual Hog Day and our respect for historic preservation.Support is urgently neededHillsborough, North Carolina's smallest city, suddenly felt safe and welcoming to LGBTQ people. The News of Orange ran a front page story a few days later, explaining the significance of the Pride parade flags. It stated that the LGBTQ community is not only visible but also celebrated, protected, and welcome.Jenn Weaver (the mayor) expressed her support for the paper. She said, "I think policies are important but symbols are also meaningful and powerful and I feel proud to be a part of a community that visually says all are welcome."We didn't officially recognize Pride Month until 2018. In 2019, the KKK members rode into town in white robes and Confederate Flags, symbolizing white supremacy and racism. Loyal white knights was one of the banners that I saw. Yesterday, Today, and Forever! Ku Klux Klan. It was terrifying for many, particularly my Black neighbors. They were confronted with hatred from people many believed belonged in another time.Continue the storyHillsborough residents responded with determination, telling them that their message was not welcomed here.Pride Month: Coming out...and coming out...and coming out... and coming...A few days later, our Pride flags were placed on street lamps. I decided to look at a local Facebook page. Many Hillsboroughians supported the flags, concluding that they were a great representation of our town. However, some people weren't so certain and a new culture war broke out. One person compared our community to Sodom or Gomorrah. Another asked about the group's plans to put up heterosexual flags. These comments were quickly dismissed by others. People pointed out that heterosexuals do not have the same rights as other people.Crossroads between small townsProud to be from Hillsborough, Vicki invited me to come visit. After dinner, we went on a postprandial walk and then ate at the Colonial Inn, which was recently restored.Vicki was to see the flags. As the sky was darkening, we drove to the epicenter of town. We stopped at a stop light and could see the Pride flags in all directions. Two young men sat in a Ford F-150 pickup truck and came up to the stoplight. The driver started shouting so loud that everyone within earshot could hear him. He exclaimed, "It ain't pouring," and urged everyone to get rid of the rainbow flags.Vicki and me both froze.The light finally turned green, and the pickup took off making a sharp left. As he raced down Main Street and out of town, the driver kept repeating the same refrain through the open window.This is just the beginning of this chapter. A few days later, a few cars pulled up at the courthouse. According to our sheriff's office, there were approximately 10 people wearing Confederate flags at this historic county courthouse. It is also town property.They didn't stay for long. They didn't have to stay long; they had made their point. Jenn Weaver, mayor of the city, explained to me that the Confederate flag signifies white supremacy and racism. Others in the town call it hate.Confederate flags at Hillsborough, North Carolina in June 2021Friends and neighbors still made their point by running to the courthouse with Black Lives Matter signs.The discussion then returned to Facebook with Hillsborough residents adopting different positions.Jenn Weaver reminded us that we live at the crossroads between progressivism and conservatism. There is no denying the symbolism in the Pride flags of our towns, which will be displayed on our streets until the end of the month. Matt Hughes, the town commissioner summarized that symbolism by telling me that I thought the response (here), showed that even small towns can be very welcoming.Steven Petrow is a writer on civility, manners, and a member of USA TODAY’s Board of Contributors. He is also the author of five books on etiquette. This week, his new book "Stupid Things That I Won’t Do When My Age Gets Here" is due to be published. Follow him on Twitter at @stevenpetrowDiverse opinions can be found on our Opinion front page, Twitter @usatodayopinion, and in our daily Opinion newsletter. Send a comment at letters@usatoday.com to respond to a column.This article first appeared on USA TODAY. Pride flags and Confederate Flags clash in my North Carolina home.
