Not only are more Bay Area cities than ever expected to raise the Pride flag this June, a number are eschewing the traditional version of the LGBTQ symbol for flags with more inclusive designs.
At the request of San Mateo County LGBTQ leaders, cities on the Peninsula are being asked to fly the Progress Pride flag throughout Pride Month this year. Daniel Quasar designed it in 2018 by combining versions of the Philadelphia and the transgender pride flags. The Philly version includes black and brown stripes at the top of the flag in addition to the standard six colors of the rainbow.
Those two additional colors and the blue, pink, and white stripes of the trans flag form a chevron that points right on the Progress flag to symbolize marching toward a better future. Sacramento city leaders had raised it last June for the first time, as the Bay Area Reporter noted at the time, and the Merced City Council will fly it this June in the city’s Bob Hart Square.
Tanya Beat, who identifies as lesbian and queer and is director of the San Mateo County LGBTQ Commission, told the B.A.R. that the county government will raise the Progress flag for the first time this year June 1 in front of its offices in Redwood City and fly it throughout the month. Belmont and South San Francisco city officials also plan to fly that version of the Pride flag next month.
“We are inviting people to, I think, learn what the Progress flag is and have reason to fly it because it is all about equity and inclusion,” said Beat. “I wouldn’t be surprised if other cities raise it that Tuesday, June 1. We are right in the midst of our communications with the cities.”
This will mark the first Pride Month observance in an official public capacity for bisexual South San Francisco City Councilman James Coleman, as he was elected in November as the first LGBTQ person to serve on his council. He told the B.A.R. the city opted to raise the Progress flag due to the request from the commission and will also be approving a Pride Month proclamation at its May 26 meeting.
“The Progress Pride flag centers the experiences of trans, Black, and Brown members of the LGBTQ+ community. As a member of the queer community myself, I’m proud that my council colleagues and I are raising this flag in June,” said Coleman, who is of Asian and white descent. “In addition to this, we as a city must work to turn words into action, and create a more inclusive and welcoming community to people of all backgrounds and identities.”
The county commission has incorporated the Progress Pride flag into its own symbol this year. And it has created a Gilroy Dispatch reported that the Santa Clara County city is expected to adopt such a flag policy soon.
Next door in Morgan Hill, city leaders will once again be flying the Pride flag in not one but three locations around town throughout June.
“This year it will happen for the fifth time now (it’s one of my successes dating back to early 2017 — with support by all of my council members back then and every year since then),” noted gay City Councilman Rene Spring in a response to the B.A.R. “Proud of Morgan Hill’s welcoming community!”
The San Mateo County LGBTQ Commission, in addition to asking the various cities to livestream their Pride flag raising ceremonies via their official Facebook pages, plans to stream as many of the events as it can on its own http://twitter.com/politicalnotes
Got a tip on LGBTQ politics? Call Matthew S. Bajko at (415) 829-8836 or e-mail m.bajko@ebar.com
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