Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has announced that he will approve the LGBTQ+ Pride flag to be flown at City Hall and the Civic Center in honor of Pride Month.
“I’m proud to have signed this historic motion to fly the Pride Flag over City Hall,” Bass said in a statement. “Our message to the rest of the country and to the world is clear — now more than ever, we must stand together.”
She continued: “I want to thank Councilman Tim McOsker and the rest of City Council for working together to get this done. We know the harm that discrimination and hate brings and I’m proud that in Los Angeles, we accept our LGBTQIA+ community with open arms.”
The City Council authorized the policy Friday on a 12-0 vote. McOsker and city officials John Lee and Kevin de León were not present during the vote.
Council members ordered the City Attorney’s Office to arrange an ordinance to revise the existing flag regulations. Council members sought to modify the policy to guarantee that the Progress Pride Flag (a version of the Pride Flag that some LGBTQ+ supporters say is more inclusive) was flown in time for Pride Month this month.
The monthlong celebration commemorates lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender pride, a movement that was initiated following the Stonewall riots, gay liberation protests that took place in 1969 in New York City.
Last year, council members McOsker, Monica Rodriguez, Traci Park, Hugo Soto- Martinez and Bob Blumenfield presented a motion that aimed to have the Progress Pride Flag flown at City Hall, City Hall East, City Hall South and other city areas where the American, California and city flags are flown during Pride Month.
According to ABC7, “City Charter Section 7.66 prohibits flags other than the American, California and city flags from being raised at City Hall or any other city facilities. The council members introduced the motion in June 2023, but were too late to raise the flag that year.”
