SU condemns Caius pride flag decision

New flag policy is a ‘political statement’ despite the College’s concerns about ‘political neutrality’, the LGBT+ campaign said

The SU claims that the new policy is itself a 'political decision'Louis Ashworth

by Lorna Kimmins

This article is 4 years old

Saturday February 12 2022, 5:02pm

Cambridge SU has condemned Gonville & Caius’ decision to stop flying the pride flag.

In a statement released yesterday (11/02), the LGBT+ campaign said that the college’s decision was a “political statement in itself” despite claims that the decision was made in the name of “political neutrality”.

They also accused the college of trying to appease those who do not support the LGBT+ community, prioritising them over the “comfort and welfare” of students.

The statement comes after Caius dons voted to only fly the college banner last week (02/02). The college council ratified the decision despite opposition from JCR and MCR presidents, ending the six-year tradition of flying the pride flag during LGBT+ history month.

Although the college has pledged to review the decision in January 2024, the SU LGBT+ campaign said that this is “simply not soon enough” and urged the College to “re-examine its decision with haste”.

The campaign also signed the University LGBT+ Staff Network's letter to the master of the college, expressing “dismay” at the decision and calling it “regressive and damaging”.

Caius votes to stop flying pride flag

Students also expressed their discontent with the decision by unveiling pride and trans flags while grace was read at a formal last week (04/02).

The initial college statement explaining the decision said: “The College flag is a symbol which unites all in the Caius community. Choosing to fly only the College flag avoids concerns regarding political neutrality, and the difficulty of choosing between the plurality of good causes for which a flag could be flown.”

“Flags flown to express opinions about causes and issues, have the potential to divide us. All of us are Caians, so the College flag speaks for all of us. No other flag does.”

Varsity approached Gonville & Caius for comment.

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