Pierce County Council member Amy Cruver told the public Tuesday she will not be sitting in the council chambers while a Pride flag hangs there because it distracts her from her official duties. Cruver, a Republican representing District 3 since 2020, said she will attend meetings via video call in her office for the entirety of July, which is Pierce County Pride month. She told The News Tribune on Wednesday a rainbow flag sits in her line of sight in council chambers and is distracting to her work because it makes her think of uncomfortable things like gay pornography, drag shows and gender-affirming surgeries.
"When a human being displays themselves in ways that are uncomfortable, I'm uncomfortable, and it makes my mind think of other things," Cruver told The News Tribune. "And then I'm distracted from being able to do the work I need to do and focus on what I'm trying to focus on. There's enough distractions anyway, let alone having something specific like that that has been very vocal in the world.
" This July was the first time a Pride flag has been flown in the Pierce County Council chambers. Republicans, including Executive Bruce Dammier, have been vocal about not wanting the Pride flag to be flown on or in public buildings in the past. Next Tuesday will be the fourth year in a row a proclamation affirming support of the LGBTQ community has been brought to the County Council for approval.
The three Republican members of the council have not signed their names to it, Cruv.
