Kouvola bars Pride and sports flags from city flagpoles

Kouvola will no longer fly Pride or sports club flags on city-owned flagpoles, following a policy approved by the city board on Tuesday, Yle reports.

Under the new rules, only the Finnish flag, NATO and EU flags, and official flags of foreign countries during visits may be flown. The policy applies to all city flagpoles and takes effect in November.

The change follows an initiative by 13 elected and deputy council members calling for politically neutral city communications. The initiative cited discussion during Pride Week and vandalism targeting rainbow flags, and argued that Pride divides Kouvola residents and increases confrontation. Pride events promote the human rights and equality of sexual and gender minorities.

The city manager’s original proposal would have allowed sports clubs and organisations to use the city’s other flagpoles, but not those outside city hall. The board approved an amendment extending the same rules to every city flagpole. Sports clubs, including ice hockey club KooKoo, had previously flown their flags outside city hall on home game days.