General Motors plant flies gay pride flag

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) A Gay Pride rainbow flag is flying high above the Fort Wayne G-M Assembly Plant.  A viewer submitted a photo to WANE on Monday using our Report!t feature of a Gay Pride flag at the Fort Wayne GM Plant. 

The flag is stirring controversy for some but making others like Jerry Lawson hopeful equality is on its way.

"I think that they're just setting a very huge example for Fort Wayne that equality is pretty much on its way," Lawson said.

GM put the rainbow flag up earlier this week. Officials there said they notified employees about it. They're hoping this will spark some conversation.

The President of the IPFW United Sexualities group said they already have people talking.

"It makes a statement that they're inclusive and that they celebrate diversity within their company," President of IPFW United Sexualities Chris Gunderson said.

GM had this to say about putting up the Gay Pride flag "Recently, Fort Wayne Assembly plant leadership decided to permanently move a POW flag from a pole in front of its administration building to the facility's primary flag and truck display along Interstate 69. This gave the plant an opportunity to fly other flags, which include the Indiana state flag, the UAW flag, and any of the flags representing GM's official Employee Resource Groups. Currently the GM PLUS rainbow flag is flying for one week in support of Pride month. It's our hope that ongoing support of our employees will foster constructive dialogue on the importance of diversity at GM."

The Prisoners of War and Missing in Action flag is flying in a more prominent location in front of GM by I-69.

People who are a part of the gay community believe by GM flying the flag they're inching closer to having equality.

"We're not screaming for special rights but it's a very good thing to see us on our way to equal rights," Lawson said