City of Newcastle has thrown its support behind the LGBTIQ+ community by flying the Progress Pride Flag at City Hall for the first time, to coincide with the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the importance of celebrating our diverse community could not be underestimated at a time when fostering inclusivity is one of City of Newcastle’s main priorities.
“City of Newcastle is committed to ensuring our city celebrates diversity and advocates for inclusivity in support of our LGBTIQ+ community,” Cr Nelmes said.
“As the city with the highest ‘Yes’ vote in regional Australia in support of marriage equality, we want to ensure that our community feels safe and supported, which is why we’ll be flying the Progress Pride Flag on days and for events that hold significance amongst Newcastle’s LGBTIQ+ community.
“Flying the flag demonstrates to our local lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer community members that our city stands with them, not only during Mardi Gras, but at all times.
“I’m incredibly proud to witness the flying of the Progress Pride Flag, which has become a widely recognised symbol to represent all LGBTIQ+ community members, for the first time at Newcastle’s City Hall.”
The Progress Pride Flag will be flown together with the Australian, United Nations, New South Wales, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags at City Hall for the duration of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras from today until Sunday 6 March.
It will also be flown to coincide with future days and events including International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia & Transphobia, Pride Month, Wear it Purple Day, Newcastle Pride Festival and Trans Day of Remembrance.
City of Newcastle has demonstrated support of the LGBTIQ+ community through a number of initiatives in recent years, including the establishment of a rainbow walk in Islington Park, support of the ‘yes’ campaign and marriage equality, sponsorship of Newcastle Pride Festival and previously flying the Rainbow Flag at City Hall.
The flying of the Progress Pride Flag was an initiative brought about via a Lord Mayoral Minute and supported unanimously by the elected Council in September 2021.
The Progress Pride Flag was designed by non-binary artist and graphic designer Daniel Quasar in 2018 and incorporates the existing six-coloured Rainbow Flag, widely recognised as the symbol of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities, which was designed by Gilbert Baker for the 1978 San Francisco Freedom Day Parade. The Progress Pride Flag also includes a multicoloured chevron (a V-shaped element) to represent trans, nonbinary and gender diverse people. The chevron comprises black and brown for Indigenous people and people of colour, as well as white, pink and blue, the colours of the Trans Pride Flag designed by American trans woman Monica Helms in 1999.