LGBTQIA+ Pride Support
The City of Kirkland has proclaimed June as “Pride Month” in Kirkland since 2019 to celebrate lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, and asexual members of our community. Proclaiming June as “Pride Month” is also an affirmation of the City’s commitment to protect and serve everyone who resides, works, or visits Kirkland without discrimination, as well as its belief in the dignity, equality, and civil rights of all people.
Beginning in 2022, during the month of June the “Progress” flag flies over, or is displayed prominently, at City Hall, all Kirkland fire stations, the Kirkland Justice Center, the City maintenance facilities, and the community centers to affirm the City’s commitment to be a safe, inclusive, and welcoming community against violence and discrimination.
About the Intersex-Inclusive
Progress Flag
Gilbert Baker, an American artist, gay rights activist, and U.S. Army veteran, created the original eight color Pride flag in 1978 as a new symbol for the gay and lesbian political movement, at the suggestion of his friends and colleagues, including Harvey Milk, a San Francisco City Supervisor and the first openly gay elected official in California.
The flag was modified in 1979 to the six-color version: red for life, orange for healing, yellow for sunlight, green for nature, blue for serenity and violet for spirit; and again in 2017 with pink, indigo, and lavender to represent diversity. In 2017, the city of Philadelphia adopted an updated flag to include brown and black stripes, incorporating the intersection and unique experience people of color have in the LGBTQIA+ community. In 2018, Daniel Quasar released a redesign called the Progress flag to include a chevron shape overlay on the left side of the baby blue, pink, and white colors from the trans pride flag. The colors black and brown were added to represent people of color and to some also represent people who have or have passed on from AIDS/HIV. The Intersex-Inclusive Progress Flag adds a yellow triangle with a purple circle overlay to represent intersex people. The Progress Pride Flag serves as a symbol of the LGBTQIA+ community and is a visual reminder of the struggles and oppression that people in the community have faced and continue to face. It is also a sign of love, hope, inclusion and welcoming. The Progress flag serves as a symbol of the LGBTQIA+ community’s commitment to be more inclusive of the scope and intersection of identities within the community.
Past Actions by the City
The City of Kirkland’s Affirmative Action Policy was amended in 2001 to include sexual orientation. In 2017, the City of Kirkland added a new chapter 3.18 to the Kirkland Municipal Code related to sustaining a safe, welcoming, and inclusive community for all residents regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, income or economic status, political affiliation, military status, sexual orientation, or physical, mental or sensory ability.
Proclamations
2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019
City of Kirkland Pride Month Proclamation, Kirkland City Hall, Tuesday, June 6, 2023.
Events
2023 events:
- The City of Kirkland hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony on June 2, 2023, at 5 p.m. to unveil the installation of a new crosswalk modeled after the Intersex-Inclusive Progress Pride flag at the entrance of Marina Park at Kirkland Avenue and Lakeshore Plaza. Read more about the event.
- Raising of the Pride Flag event for the LGBTQIA+ staff and allies was held June 1 at City Hall.
- The Kirkland Chamber of Commerce and Kirkland Downtown Association will host their annual Kirkland Pouring with Pride Wine Walk on Friday, June 16th starting at 5 p.m. at the Heathman Hotel.
Past events: Kirkland Urban hosted the Kirkland Urban Wear Your Pride event on Thursday, June 24, 2021. This vibrant celebration included a Pride Parade, dancers from local studios dressed in rainbow gear, live music, stilt walkers, balloon twists, a DJ and much more. The event welcomed friends and families and was free to attend! Kirkland Urban partnered with Eastside Pride PNW and PFLAG Bellevue Eastside, each of which hosted a both and offered fun rainbow hued swag including flags, bracelets and bowties, as well as information and support for the LGBTQIA+ community. Please enjoy these pictures from the event:
Community Collaborators
The City has collaborated with Eastside Pride PNW and PFLAG Bellevue Eastside for insight and guidance related to Pride Month in Kirkland.