Pride and Transgender flag fly together for the first time at Nanaimo City Hall

This is the first year the Transgender flag and the Progressive Pride Flag were flown together at Nanaimo City Hall. Photo: Lauryn Mackenzie / CHLY 101.7fm

Kicking off the start of Pride Month, the City of Nanaimo is flying the Progressive Pride flag and the Transgender Pride flag together for the first time.

At the flag-raising ceremony on June 4, outside Nanaimo City Hall, over 100 people gathered to watch the two flags be raised for Pride. Lauren Semple, president of the Nanaimo Pride Society, opened the ceremony, saying the flag raising is not just to celebrate love and diversity but also to acknowledge the challenges faced by queer and transgender individuals in the community and around the world.

“I am often asked; ‘when is it going to be enough–When will we no longer need pride?’ And I always say what my queer elders have taught me to say, ‘when we can fly a pride flag in every corner of every country across this globe without fear,’” Semple said. “And that's why events today like today's are so important.”
Semple noted that it has only been since 2009 that the City of Nanaimo officially recognized Pride Month although advocates were fighting for the recognition of it for many years prior. She said the recognition of Pride in Nanaimo is just the beginning of the movement.

“Thank you to each and every one of you for supporting this important milestone event and helping to mark this piece of history in our community,” Semple said. “15 years today, I'm looking forward to 20,25, 50, 75, 100 and on until we can celebrate Pride around the world.”

The ceremony featured performances by the  AVIVA Chorus, the only 2SLGBTQIA+ (Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, plus) chorus on Vancouver Island.

 As well as a local musician and Transgender advocate, Tami Nutting performed an original song titled “Stand Tall” which is about standing tall for everyone.

Member of Parliament for Nanaimo-Ladysmith Lisa Marie Barron, spoke at the ceremony about the importance of advocating to protect the human rights of the 2SLGBTQIA+ people.

“We need to stand together to ensure the rights are maintained and improved upon rights that have been hard fought by so many,” Barron said. “We are seeing a disturbing rise in hate and discrimination right here at home. Protecting 2SLGBTQIA+ rights cannot be a political issue, this is a human rights issue that impacts us all.”

She said as a community any form of hate must be called out and hold those who use hate speech accountable.

She said she will continue to fight for the rights of the 2SLGBTQIA+ people to live their lives.  

“June is Pride Month, it is a month to make clear there's no place for hate today, tomorrow or ever, and Pride Month is also a time to celebrate the incredible strength, diversity and beauty of 2SLGBTQIA+ people,” Barron said. “It is time to celebrate people for who they are and who they love.”

Sheila Malcolmson, MLA for Nanaimo also spoke at the ceremony saying the celebration of Pride Month should not taken for granted.

“We know there's a lot of people in this crowd who have come a long way from around the world, that this is a safe place where you can love who you love,” Malcolmson said.

She recognizes the past legislation that has been made to allow a greater sense of pride and stop the wave of hate. She shares one example of the recent legislation from 2022 allowing anyone to change their gender on their B.C. Service Card, B.C diver’s licence, BCID card, and B.C. birth certificate without the confirmation of a physician or psychologist.  

But, Malcolmson said while there is the celebration of Pride, there is still work that needs to be done.

“And this is not just words of solidarity, this has to be action,” Malcolmson said.

Retiring MLA representing Nanaimo-North Cowichan, Doug Routley, also made an appearance at the ceremony. He said although he has been in the legislature over the last 20 years, it has only been in the last decade that he has been out about his sexuality.

He jokes that even though he wears a button that says ‘Bi Cyclist,” people still forget about his sexuality.

Routley said it is time to stand up and defend the right to love who they love not just for themselves but for those who are not ready to come out yet.

“There are so many people among us who don't feel comfortable or safe in a way that hasn't been true for a long time,” Routley said. “And now more than ever, I believe that we need to proudly say that they belong with us and that we love them, and that they have every right the same as every other person in our communities.” 

He said as this will be the last time he can speak at a pride event as an elected representative, he is proud of the community and the movement for 2SLGBTQIA+ rights and has been honoured to represent the community and speak for the people.

Before the flag raising Mayor of Nanaimo, Leonard Krog, came and said the proclamation of Pride Month.

This is the first year the Transgender flag and the Progressive Pride Flag were flown together at Nanaimo City Hall. 

Lauren Semple said the Progressive Pride Flag is similar to the Pride Flag but features stripes of Black and Brown to represent and acknowledge the fight to end systemic racism that intersects queer identities and the impacts Indigenous, Black, and People of Colour within the community. The flag also features white, light pink, and light blue stripes, which Semple said comes from the transgender flag that represents the call to action to end the rising tides of transphobia within the community and out of it.

“As these flags fly above our city in June, let it serve as a reminder that the differences that we have are what make us unique and beautiful,” Semple said. “And that the 2SLGBTQIA+ community is nothing without all of the letters together. None of us are free until all of us are free.”

Semple calls for the flags to be an inspiration to stand together as advocates for the rights of all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression.

Funding Note: This story was produced with funding support from the Local Journalism Initiative, administered by the Community Radio Fund of Canada.