For the first time, the rainbow-colored LGBTQ flag will be raised over county buildings during Pride Month celebrations each June, according to an order approved Tuesday, March 7.
By a 5-0 vote, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors directed the Internal Services Department and the county Chief Executive Officer to change the county’s flag policy and begin flying the pride flag — wherever American and California flags fly — starting this June over libraries, fire stations, sheriff’s stations and county administrative facilities.
A new design, known as the LGBTQ Progress Pride Flag, created in 2018 by Daniel Quasar will be the version flown at county facilities.
The Progress Pride Flag is a modification on the six-colored rainbow flag by adding a chevron on the left side in the colors black, brown, light blue, pink, and white. Black and brown colors represent LGBTQ+ people of color, while pink, light blue and white represent the transgender community.
The directive came after the Huntington Beach City Council voted on Feb. 21 to no longer fly the pride flag on any city-owned property after it had flown the LGBTQ Pride flag at City Hall in 2021.
In the county directive, the supervisors mentioned the Orange County beach city’s new policy allowing only city, state and national flags at its City Hall. It also said including the flag in June at county facilities is a counter-attack against hundreds of pieces of anti-LGBTQ legislation circulating in states and cities across the nation.
“I think it is important we do this at this time,” said Third District Supervisor and Board Chair Janice Hahn. “We are seeing an incredible trend of anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-transgender bills at alarming rates. Hopefully it will counter in a small way all the hate we are seeing across the country.
“This flag will represent inclusion. To have that flag wave for all to see in Los Angeles County sends a message that L.A. County is a beacon of hope and that all are…
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