Deli 'shocked' at complaint letter over Pride flag
Businesses across Market Harborough displayed Progress Pride flags in June to support Pride month organised by Harborough District Council.
But as the month approached its end, a customer of Just So Italian Deli sent an unsigned first class letter which said the flag was "a message of hostility" and warned the deli would "certainly lose" customers.
Just So Italian assistant manager Tiffany Ryan said the deli would not tolerate discrimination and wanted to show solidarity to a community which receives "so much hatred".
She said: "We were quite shocked and disgusted, it was really out of the blue.
"The member of staff who opened the letter is a member of the LGBTQ community himself, so it was quite emotional opening [a letter with] that attitude posted through the letterbox."
The letter, which was also sent to a handful of other businesses in the town according to the deli, also asked the businesses to consider taking down "this divisive flag".
But Ms Ryan said: "We need to let people know that we don't accept this kind of behaviour. We don't tolerate it, and we just wanted to make sure that everyone knows they are welcome in our deli.
"We don't care who you are. It's just all about Italian food. We don't want people to be nervous about coming in.
"We need to stand up for a community that already gets so much hatred directed towards them, because at the end of it, they're people."
Harborough council's lead for culture, leisure, economy and tourism Jo Asher said it was "proud" to support Pride month with flags across the town centre and on its Symington Building offices.
She said: "We want to show that everyone is welcome in our district and flying the Progress flag demonstrates our strong commitment to equality and diversity."
Follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.
Reform council told to reconsider flag policy
Procession of colour marks city's Pride event
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