At its May 24, 2023 regular meeting, the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District board of directors voted unanimously to approve the annual display of the Progress Pride flag during the month of June to affirm support of the LGBTQ+ community.
The board also issued a proclamation recognizing the month of June as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Plus (LGBTQ+) “Pride Month.”
Pride Month occurs each June to celebrate and commemorate LGBTQ+ pride. Pride Month began after the Stonewall riots, a series of gay liberation protests in 1969, and has since spread throughout and outside the United States.
The LGBTQ+ Pride or rainbow flag has been part of the LGBTQ+ movement since 1978, designed by Gilbert Baker at the request of San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in the United States. The flag is now widely recognized as a symbol of pride, inclusion and support for social movements that advocate for LGBTQ+ people in society. While there are many versions of the Pride flag, the Progress Pride Flag has become the preferred standard. Designed in 2018 by artist Daniel Quasar, the Progress Pride flag adds a 5-colored chevron to the LGBTQ+ Rainbow Flag to place emphasis on inclusion and progression. The black and brown stripes are intended to represent marginalized LGBTQ+ communities of color, community members lost to HIV/AIDS, and those currently living with HIV/AIDS. The white, pink, and blue stripes are intended to represent the transgender community, and the chevron shape of the new stripes represents a need for forward movement. The redesigned flag aims to draw attention to the need to center and support black and brown queer and trans people, as well as those living with HIV/AIDS.
Midpen staff follows policy standards for the care and display of flags of the United States of America and the State of California at District offices; the display of other flags requires board approval.