The adoption of the Progress flag came right before the Black Lives Matter movement, he noted. There weren’t many role models of Black gay males when I was coming up.
My experience as a Black gay male is really different. “Historically, even the LGBTQ movement tended to skew more in support of White men. “The new Pride flag provides the opportunity to show that the LGBTQ community is broad, and even within it, a lot of identities come together,” Gordon said. She pointed to activities and celebrations hosted by the online groups Pride Inside and Niagara Pride, including the lighting of Niagara Falls in a rainbow of colors and the unveiling of the newly created LGBTQ+ Rainbow Garden in Niagara Falls, both on June 28. “Although Pride celebrations have looked different because of the pandemic, smaller events and celebrations have been occurring.” The proliferation of the Progress flag “is a sign that the community is starting to recognize the importance of inclusion across all orientations and identities,” said Charlene Vetter, clinical manager of Buffalo State’s Counseling Center and co-chair of the LGBTQ+ Resource Center’s Bengal Allies group. As the nation celebrates achievements and challenges faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) individuals this June, the new symbol of inclusiveness can be seen everywhere from individual yards to the State Department.
INCLUSIVE GAY FLAG FULL
Pride Month grew out of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan and continues as a reminder of those who fought and continue to fight for full equality.