More than 100 people showed up at a Truro, N.S. park to protest council's lack of support for the gay community.

Last week, city politicians voted not to fly the gay pride flag during the community's inaugural pride week celebrations. The local county government did vote to allow the flag to be flown.

Only one of seven Truro councillors voted to allow the flag to fly. She showed up at the protest.

"It's a matter of respect for all members of our community," Councillor Diane Bennett Cook told CTV Atlantic reporter Leah Cross. "It's a matter of acceptance and appreciation of differences."

People who attended the rally were particularly miffed with the Truro's Mayor Bill Mills, who cited his Christian beliefs as his reason for voting against the move.

"The mayor of Truro has embarrassed a lot of Christians by interpreting the bible in a very unfavourable way," said Rev. David Fletcher, an Anglican priest. "If we want to shout bible passages back and forth, my bible bullet would come from Galatians in Chapter 3, where St. Paul says that in Christ, there is no more exclusion."

Mills could not be reached for comment when CTV Atlantic tried to contact him. Last week, he said, "There are writings in the Book of Romans chapter one, to name a few -- basically I have to go with that conviction, and I know it's not a popular one."

Most socially conservative Christians believe that homosexuality is both a sin condemned by the Bible and a lifestyle choice. Most gays and lesbians believe homosexuality is an innate part of who they are, not a choice that they made.

One young man said he helped organize the rally partly because of his fears of coming out in this community when he was young. Charles Thompson grew up in Truro but didn't feel comfortable admitting he was gay until he went away to Newfoundland for school. Finally, he was confident enough when he returned to his hometown to be open with his family and friends.

"I was tired of hiding," he said. "I want Truro to be a place where everybody feels comfortable."

Local resident Sharon Farrell who also helped organized the rally, couldn't agree more. That's why she wanted to send the mayor and council a message of acceptance and good governance.

"Mayor Mills is using the power of his office to put forward his own personal agenda," she said. "He is responsible to all of the people in this community, not just the select few who walk the line he chooses."

With a report from CTV Atlantic's Leah Cross