Just hours after Lt. Governor John Fetterman flew LGBTQIA+ pride flags from the balcony of his office in the Pennsylvania State Capitol to mark the start of Pride Month, the flags were taken down by state employees. The legislature passed a provision last year to ban “unauthorized flags” on Capitol grounds.

Fetterman said in an e-mailed statement “I can’t say I am surprised, but I am deeply disappointed that the flags were removed, on the literal start of Pride Month,” He went on to say “ What’s even more disappointing and angering is that the Republicans in Pennsylvania can quickly come up with legislation to take down the flags, but not to ensure that Pennsylvania law explictly protects the LGBTQIA+ community from discrimination. This is bull explanative.”