A gay rights group has filed a human rights complaint over the Town of Truro's refusal to fly the rainbow flag.

Charles Thompson, with Truro Pride, said the discrimination complaint centres on the fact the town council has agreed to fly flags for other community organizations and groups.

The six-colour flag, shown in the British coastal town of Brighton, was designed in 1978 by San Francisco artist Gilbert Baker and has become a universal symbol of gay pride.
(Lefteris Pitarakis/Associated Press)

"Which leads us to believe that there is some form of homophobia in the works there," he told CBC News Friday.

Earlier this month, Truro town council voted 6-1 against raising the rainbow-coloured flag to coincide with gay pride activities in Pictou County.

Some councillors said the request from Truro Pride came in late and there was no time for a debate. But Mayor Bill Mills said as a Christian he could not agree to the raise the flag.

Thompson said he was waiting for the town's mayor to contact his group to resolve the matter. But since that didn't happen, he said Truro Pride took the next step and filed the complaint with the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission.

The six-colour flag was designed in 1978 by San Francisco artist Gilbert Baker to represent gay and lesbian pride. It has become a universal symbol for the gay community.