Look up from your phones on Santa Monica Boulevard and you’ll notice the new Pride Progress flags have replaced a Lambda rainbow flag at four locations at the median on Route 66 this week. The new flag is a permanent installation per the unanimous approval by city council at a regular council meeting on Monday, April 18, 2022. A Pride Progress Flag will also hang at City Hall during Pride Month instead of the annual rainbow pride flag.
Pride Progress Flags – Photo by Paulo Murillo for WEHO TIMESNew Pride Progress Flags are up at the median on Santa Monica Blvd. This is a permanent installation meant to be a symbol of inclusion and equality @WeHoCity – #wehotimes #wehonews #wehocity #weho #westhollywood #pride #progressflag pic.twitter.com/KklC8rSJlt
— WEHO TIMES (@WEHO_TIMES) May 18, 2022
Created by artist Daniel Quasar, the Pride Progress Flag is a combination of the original multi-colored Rainbow Flag created by artist Gilbert Baker in 1978, in San Francisco. The Transgender Pride Flag was designed by transgender activist Monica Helms, in 1999. The Progress Flag’s black and brown stripes represent marginalized LBGT communities of color, community members lost to HIV/AIDS, and those currently living with HIV/AIDS. Quasar reshaped the new flag colors into a chevron to represent a need for forward movement. He said he wanted to, “shift focus and emphasis to what is important in our current community climate.” He wanted to draw attention to th3 support Black and Brown queer and trans people, as well as those living with HIV/AIDS.
Pride Progress Flags – Photo by Paulo Murillo for WEHO TIMESA revised resolution posted on April 15, 2022, amended the uniform policy for the outdoor public display of governmental and non-governmental flags on Santa Monica Boulevard’s Center Medians (4): Permanently displayed flags: one Lambda Flag, one Progress Flag, and one United States Flag on individual poles displayed at each median location.
The new Pride Progress Flags can be seen at the median on Santa Monica Boulevard. Locations include the intersections by La Cienega Boulevard, Hancock Avenue, Palms Avenue, and Robertson Boulevard.
Mayor Pro Tem Sepi Shyne told WEHO TIMES back in April that the Pride Progress Flags represent where the City of West Hollywood is today. “It is our future,” she said. “However, the City of West Hollywood also want’s to acknowledge the city’s LGBT past, and keep highlighting its history by keeping the the Lambda rainbow flag all year round.”
Once people started demanding their own special colors, it started to divide all of us. The rainbow flag was designed to be all inclusive without calling out specific factions. Such a shame.
The people arguing that the Rainbow was always inclusive clearly always felt included. Not so the case for many non white gays and trans and everyone the new flag represents. You should get out more. Meet and talk to people who have a different experience than you.
I don’t like the new flag. The rainbow flag was never about skin color. I also hate the new crosswalks.
You’re entitled to your own opinion, but let me guess, you’re white of a later generation. Yes? Yes.
This is shameful and we need to stop accommodating the crazies out there with their nonsense. Soon we will have 4 pride flags like in SF Vancouver and London.
Its time for LG to separate from the Alphabet including corporate donations.
Again, people of color and other marginalized members of the LGBT “rainbow” community don’t think like you do. That is worth exploring.
Newsflash – The “LG” is still fighting for equality. We are in the middle of a social justice fight in our country. We are fighting for the equality of ALL people who are marginalized every day. Nobody is free until we are all free. Also, crazies?? Nice empathy.