A Tory councillor who said she didn't want "Pride sex flags" along her local high street has been suspended by the party.
Angela Kilmartin sparked fury when she posted her opposition to rainbow flags on Facebook.
Responding to a man who had bought Pride flags for businesses in Witham, Essex, Ms Kilmartin wrote: "I don't want pride sex flags along my High Street. I don't even want heterosexual flags along my High Street.
"Sex is for the bedroom and private life, not for displaying preferences in public."
A hair salon in the town was egged earlier in the week after displaying a rainbow flag.
Ms Kilmartin was promptly suspended by Witham Constituency Conservative Association, and is being investigated by Braintree District Council, which said it was "disappointed".
A council spokesman said the authority "disowns" the remark, stating: “We are disappointed to hear of this post as Braintree District Council have policies to promote equal and fair treatment for all."
A statement from the council continued: "The Council celebrates and supports the diversity of the District and we recognise this within our own organisation and in everything we do.
"We expect our Councillors and staff to do the same. There are a number of separate code of conduct issues that we’re also looking into and working on. Further we are aware that Cllr Kilmartin has been suspended from the Conservative Group pending their own investigation into the matter.”
Ms Kilmartin was also criticised by Witham Town Council, which she is also a member of.
Leader Michael Lager wrote: “I was disappointed to hear of this post as Witham Town Council have policies to promote equal and fair treatment for all that have been subscribed to by all its elected members."'
But Ms Kilmartin said she had been inundated with support following her remarks.
She told The Mirror: "There is an extraordinary outpouring of support for me by the normally 'silent majority'. I feel truly honoured by it.
"The concerns for me can be seen all over the media and from commenters. Hundreds of thousands at home and abroad are messaging and supporting my minimal sentences on Facebook recently."
A spokesperson for Witham Constituency Conservative Association said: “Witham Conservatives were recently made aware of comments posted on social media by a councillor in relation to pride flags.
“In consultation with the Council Group, the councillor in question has been suspended from the Conservative Group pending a full investigation.”
