City of South San Francisco Flies Progress Pride Flag to Celebrate Pride Month

South San Francisco City Council members proudly raised the progress pride flag to commemorate Pride Month, which is celebrated annually in June to pay homage to the Stonewall uprising in June 1969 in New York City. The uprising became a catalyst for an emerging gay rights movement as organizations such as the Gay Liberation Front and the Gay Activists Alliance were formed, modeled after the civil rights movement and the women’s rights movements. A year after the Stonewall riots, the nation’s first Gay Pride marches were held.

“This is a time for our LGBTQIA (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and/or questioning, intersex, and asexual) communities, who have struggled for decades to overcome prejudice, to come together and celebrate the freedom to be themselves,” said Councilmember James Coleman.

Councilmember Coleman had a hand in updating this year’s pride flag, which includes a five-colored chevron to the classic Rainbow Flag. The progress pride flag places a greater emphasis on inclusion and diversity. The flag centers the experiences of LGBTQIA communities of color through its black and brown stripes, and the trans community with its pink, light blue and white stripes.

“As we celebrate Pride Month this June, let us not only observe how far we have come in the struggle for the human rights of LGBTQIA persons, but also acknowledge the challenges that remain,” added Mayor Mark Addiego. The City of South San Francisco is committed to a workplace that values diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect for all LGBTQI staff.

The South San Francisco City Council will read a Pride Month proclamation at the next City Council meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, June 9^th at 6:00 p.m. via Zoom