THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, JunE 17, 2022 Page 5 Everett celebrates LGBTQ+ community with Pride fl ag raising M Special to Th e Advocate ayor Carlo DeMaria, the City of Everett, and community members gathered at the corner of Church Street and Broadway to raise the “Progress” Pride flag at City Hall. The mayor, speaking from the podium, expressed the importance of raising this fl ag in Everett to be a symbol that everyone is welcome no matter who they are. Mayor DeMaria also talked about how unfortunate it is that many people still have to face ridicule, bullying and being treated diff erently by others for their sexual orientation or what they identify as. “I hope this fl ag stands as a symbol to let everyone know that our City is welcoming and inclusive to all who visit and reside here,” said DeMaria. “I also hope that one day no one will be made to feel ashamed or be ridiculed for who they truly are.” This ceremony’s flag was different than those in past years because the City of Everett raised the updated Pride fl ag that is often referred to as the “Progress” Pride flag. The “Progress” Pride fl ag oriMayor Calo DeMaria talked about how the City of Everett will always raise the Pride fl ag in support of the LGBTQ+ community. Many community members gathered to witness the Pride fl ag being raised at City Hall. gin, according to “Reader’s Digest”: “A year after the debut of the Philadelphia Pride Flag [2017] … designer Daniel Quasar introduced a reworked version of the more inclusive fl ag. ‘When the Pride fl ag was recreated in the last year to include both black/brown stripes as well as the trans stripes included this year, I wanted to see if there could be more emphasis in the design of the fl ag to give it more meaning,’ Quasar explained … The white, pink, and light blue chevron design on the Progress Pride Flag refl ects the colors of the Transgender Flag, while the brown and black stripes represent marginalized people of colRainbow cupcakes were available for everyone to enjoy. or. The black stripe has a dual meaning: It also honors those lost to HIV/AIDS and is a nod to the stigma surrounding those still living with HIV.” On the website progress. gay, Quasar states, “The trans The updated “Progress” Pride Flag fl ies proudly at Everett City Hall. fl ag stripes and marginalized community stripes were shifted to the Hoist of the fl ag and given a new chevron shape. The arrow points to the right to show forward movement, while being along the hoist edge shows that progress still needs to be made.” Mayor DeMaria and the City of Everett would like to thank everyone who joined the ceremony in support of Everett’s LGBTQ+ community.
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