A Wisconsin couple who have been ordered to withdraw the gay flag is now allowed to keep it

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By Janelle Griffith

A Wisconsin couple who have been ordered to remove a gay pride flag from their rental property or expel the face is now allowed to keep it.

Kevin Kollmann and his partner, Merle Malterer, received a letter from the owner of Country Oaks Apartments in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, in which he wrote: "The 5-day notice sent to you last week on March 25 has been cancelled".

"No further action will be taken regarding your flag, your flag may remain."

Kenneth Bieck, General Manager of Bieck Management, the owner of the apartment complex, also announced in a letter that he would discuss a new policy allowing for the deployment of flags that meet certain guidelines, such as size, location, location and location. location, etc. . "

"I would appreciate your contribution to this new policy.We could perhaps meet soon to discuss," said Bieck in his letter.

Kollmann told NBC News that the couple had just returned home on Monday after writing a response to the eviction notice received last week after finding Bieck's letter stuck to their door.

Pride gay flag displayed on patio of Country Oaks apartments in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, rented by Kevin Kollmann and Merle Malterer. The couple was ordered to remove the flag or expel their face.Courtesy of Kevin Kollmann

The couple, who have been living in his apartment for $ 870 a month for almost six years, said the incident was a case of "selective prosecution" and that he was targeted because of his sexual orientation. According to Kollmann and Malterer, about 10 to 12 other apartments in their complex carry American pride and police flags.

The American flag themed gay pride that they hung on their decks presents 50 white stars and replaces the red and white stripes with rainbow stripes.

When they spoke by phone with Bieck last week, they said he had asked them to remove the flag because it was visible from the office of management. Bieck did not return NBC News's requests for comments.

Kollmann said that he had complied with the owner's request in January that the couple remove a flag of the Green Bay Packers in order not to appear as if he was advertising for it. ;football team.

But they did not hide this time.

"That's really a lot for the LGBTQ community," Kollmann told NBC News on Monday. "Pride and love win every time."

Janelle Griffith is a late-breaking journalist for NBC News.

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