A Pride Moment

Darwin and I have been flying a Pride flag on our balcony for several months now. Today, we got this email:

Steven and Darwin,

I was on-site on Tuesday and noticed your flag, according to the Rules and Regulation booklet, the only flag that can be displayed at Hidden Harbor Condominiums is the American Flag. We do realize you are new to the condominium and may not know all the by-laws, but if there are questions, please feel free to ask.

Attached is the deed restrictions and rules and regulations booklet you should have in your possession. We ask that you please remove your flag immediately.

Thank you for your cooperation,

R--- & S--- [property managers]

Hmmmm . . .

I went through the documents he sent me and sent this reply:

Hi, R--- & S---!

I'm afraid I don't see where the bylaws state that ONLY the American flag may be flown. The bylaws state:

"Co-owners may display the American flag, in accordance with US Code & Michigan State Law upon their exclusive use limited common element." (The rest of the paragraph is devoted to the display of a flag on common elements.)

So the bylaws say an American flag may be flown on our exclusive use limited common element--in this case, our balcony. The bylaws do not say no other flag may be flown. Thanks for your attention!

--Steven and Darwin

All nice and gentile.

But Darwin got royally pissed:

R-- and S--:

I left a voicemail message for you at your office today. As I inquired in my message, did you also request our next door neighbor to remove his Blue Lives Matter flag from his pontoon boat? If your company and Hidden Harbors Condominium Association insists on pursuing this matter, we intend to file a fair housing sex discrimination complaint with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, since we believe that your company and the condo association are targeting us due to our sexual orientation. We do not intend to remove our flag absent a court order to do.

Darwin D. P. McClary

We haven't heard from them about the matter since. The flag continues to fly.