What a Glorious Flag to Celebrate PRIDE MONTH!
Orlene Grant • June 17, 2024
“The colors say it all”
Lately, there has been a lot in the news on the symbolism of flags. We recently as the world celebrated the World War II D-Day invasion (June 6,1944) on the beaches of Normandy. The site of the United States flag standing and waving was inspirational and grounding. Emblems representing who we are, and what we believe matter.
You may have noticed a gradual shift from the red – to – violet rainbow LGBTQIA+ pride flag displayed for the annual June Pride month was a simple red-to-violet rainbow, to a new and slightly changed flag over the last couple of years. According to the Ally Up Guide, the new flag is called the Intersex-Inclusive Progress Pride Flag, created by Valentino Vecchietti of Intersex Equality Rights UK in 2021. It is an update to the previous Progress Pride Flag created in 2018 by Daniel Quasar.
What is fascinating for me is how the progressive changes in the Pride flag have embodied the developing nature of celebrating diversity, inclusion and people first. Here’s what the colors mean as described by Arianne Resnick contributing to Ally Up Guide's article on Sexual Identity:
- Red represents life. Think of blood as a vital life force.
- Orange represents healing. Orange also symbolizes fun and celebration.
- Yellow is sunlight. Think radiance, new ideas, and thoughts.
- Green (in the original pride flag) is all around us in nature. Think healing place, prosperity and growth.
- Blue (in the original pride flag) was for serenity. Soothes the soul.
- Violet represents spirit. This color can be thought of as regal and denoting pride.
In June 2017, the Philadelphia Office of LGBT Affairs and advertising agency Tierney designed and introduced the Philadelphia Pride Flag at a City Hall ceremony. Note the traditional six rainbow colors in horizontal stripes, with a black and a brown stripe atop them.
By adding the colors black and brown to the Progress Pride Flag people of color were part of the rainbow of colors . Why is this addition important? Ariane Resnick emphasizes it wasn't until recent years that our society acknowledged that the pride movement originated thanks to Black trans activists such as Marsha P. Johnson, who notoriously fought back against police at the Stonewall Inn in June 1969. The Stonewall riot members were mostly people of color, and many were trans.
Let us celebrate Pride Month with its history of progress and with the joy of setting a welcoming table with room and a place for us all.
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