June 28, 2025 10:45a
(WGTD)---A day-long demonstration is underway at the Kenosha County Courthouse to protest the refusal of Kenosha County Executive Samantha Kerkman to allow the Rainbow Pride Flag to be flown in front of the courthouse during June, Pride Month.
Cal Miller is waving both the Pride and Transgender flags on the sidewalk. It's a runup to an event at 5:30 to mark the 55th anniversary of the Stonewall riots. A New York City police raid at the gay bar 56 years ago led to the modern-day LGBTQ rights movement.
A year after taking office, Kerkman in 2023 rescinded an executive order made by her predecessor, Jim Kreuser, to display the Pride Flag with other flags in front of the courthouse. At the time, Kreuser said he wanted to celebrate the LGBTQ community and the battles it has forged for equality and social acceptance.
Kerkman's new order stated that the only flags that'll be allowed to fly on county property are the U.S., state and county flags. Flags of the U.S. branches of military service and the POW-MIA flags are optionally permitted. At the time, Kerkman said displaying the Pride Flag would distract from the basic message of "honoring our country, our state, our county, and those who have served our nation."
In remarks prepared for delivery at the Stonewall commemoration, Kenosha native Len Iaquinta said where the Pride Flag flies is meaningful. "And that symbol is vitally important, especially to our young people." Iaquinta moved to New York City just two months after the Stonewall incident and quickly became involved in the gay rights movement before eventually returning to his hometown.
Saturday's events were organized under the auspices of Congregations United to Serve Humanity, or CUSH.
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