June 21, 2021
State Department Will Fly This Special Flag for Pride Month
Emell Adolphus READ TIME: 1 MIN.
In recognition of Pride Month, the State Department will fly the special "Progress" flag, reported The Hill, which is a variation on the LGBTQ rainbow flag with a chevron of black, brown, light blue, pink and white stripes on the left side.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken made the announcement Monday during an event to address global issues facing the LGBTQI community with the Atlantic Council, The Hill reports.
The flag will be in the air between June 26 through June 28.
"June 26 marks the Supreme Court ruling in 2015 in Obergefell v. Hodges, which established that the fundamental right to marry is guaranteed for same-sex couples throughout the United States," The Hill reports. "June 28 marks the anniversary of the start of 1969 Stonewall riots in New York City, largely regarded as the beginning of the global rights movement for the gay community and the basis for recognizing June as Pride Month, celebrating the LGBTQI community and acknowledging the struggle for civil rights."
Earlier this spring Secretary Blinken also announced that U.S. embassies are permitted to fly the Pride flag as they can.
The Progress flag is meant to represent marginalized groups in the LGBTQ community, including people of color, transgender people and those living with or who died from HIV/AIDS.
"I think this is going to be a significant couple of days," Blinken said, The Hill reports, "and we will see the Progress flag flying at the State Department."
