Reading celebrates Pride month by raising a flag outside City Hall
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Opening words from our Vice President:
“Hello everyone, my name is Enrique Castro Jr. I am the Vice President of Reading Pride Celebration. On behalf of our organization, the LGBT Center, Mayor Eddie Moran, and other city officials here with us today, I’d like to welcome you this day, as we raise our pride flag at city hall.
While working with the mayor to plan this historic event, he asked me to say a few words and, what can I say? The first thing that came to mind was what a difference a year makes! Last year, many of you stood here waiting for the flag to be raised, and well we all know what happened. But this year, thanks to you exercising your right to vote, we stand side by side with Mayor Moran, City councilwoman Donna Reed and the LGBT Center in unity to raise our flag celebrating Pride month.
With the joy that comes with raising our flag, we also remember those that left us too soon including our Black, people of color and trans siblings who have been victims of senseless violence.
Four years ago today, we all woke to the horrifying news of what happened at the Pulse nightclub, and just yesterday we were stunned to hear the news of Dominque Rem’mie Fells, a black transgender woman who was brutally murdered in Philadelphia.
We also remember our long serving President Richard Spangler who, together with his husband Ben, fought for and dreamed of this day. Richard unfortunately passed away last Friday, but standing here together with his husband Ben and our organization, we commit to continue with his legacy and we know he is smiling down on all of us here today.
So today, we celebrate our Pride month, but we also raise this flag in the memory of those taken from us too soon. They are forever in our hearts and celebrate this historic day with us in spirit. Now as we raise the flag, you might notice, it looks different. With all that is going on in the world, in a show of support and unity for our trans, black and people of color siblings, artist Daniel Quasar gave our flag a bit of an update. He calls it the Progress Flag.
The original colors of our flag remain with their original meanings, as recognized globally as a symbol of pride, but in the artist’s words “the trans flag stripes, Black and people of color community stripes were shifted to the hoist of the flag and given a new arrow shape. The arrow points to the right to show forward movement, while being along the left edge shows that progress still needs to be made” The changes don’t change the meaning of our flag, but shift focus and show support to those in our community that need it most right now. Our LGBTQ community has accomplished many things by uniting, and today marks yet another accomplishment.
While we honor the memory of those we have lost, we celebrate together as a family, and are blessed to live in a city that supports us all. Thank you all for being here, Happy Pride month everyone!
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