The Progress Pride flag snapped into the breeze above Victoria City Hall Friday morning ahead of Pride Week.
In addition to the Progress Pride flag flying from the City Hall flagpole through July 7, nine other flags representing 2SLGBTQIA+ identities now line the building’s Pandora Avenue side.
“It’s really important for all levels of government to acknowledge what’s going on today in the climate we’re in,” said Nick Luney, president of the Victoria Pride Society. “And to be able to celebrate and stand proud and loud in community.”
Each one reflects a different strand of the community: asexual, bisexual, genderqueer, non-binary, pansexual, polysexual, transgender, two-spirit and the classic rainbow pride flag.
Luney said the visual display of such a wide spectrum of flags is meaningful and intentional.
“It shows that we have a very diverse community,” he said. “And there’s a lot of beauty in our diversity and all the different identifications that are represented here at City Hall.”
Friday’s ceremony was opened by Mayor Marianne Alto, who reflected on the long arc of progress in Victoria’s queer community – and the work that remains.
She pointed to the array of flags surrounding City Hall as symbols of both celebration and resistance.
“The Progress Flag is a representation of the reality that we have made extraordinary changes – and we should celebrate that,” she said. “But we also need to reflect on those we've lost in the fight, and those who continue to be oppressed in all parts of the community.”
Before members of city council helped raise the Progress Pride flag, Alto challenged attendees to see the moment as more than just symbolic.
“These struggles and the successes we have are not just for the benefit of this community, but for everyone who is ‘other’ – who is not like me or you, and who is able to be oppressed by virtue of their difference,” she said. “That is a challenge for all of us, every day.”
The celebrations are far from over as Victoria’s Pride Week is set for July 1-7.
They will conclude with the Victoria Pride Parade, set for Sunday, July 6, beginning at 11 a.m. at the corner of Pandora Avenue and Government Street.
Organizers are anticipating roughly 140 parade entries and more than 70,000 spectators lining the downtown route.
Luney said while Pride is a time to gather in joy, its roots as a protest movement still matter, especially as backlash rises south of the border and at home.
“Pride started as a protest and it continues to be a protest with the rise of conservatism,” he said. “It’s important to acknowledge and educate our audiences as to where we’ve come from, where we are today, and how we can support moving forward. Legislation can change with different political parties – so it’s important to continue that advocacy and awareness.”
As the newly appointed president of the Victoria Pride Society, Luney said his goal is to keep the movement active year-round.
“One of our biggest goals is making that impact and that community connection with such a big, vibrant city,” he said. “Making sure that our brothers and sisters – our community – is taken care of and supported 365, not just in our Pride Month.”
