Flag giveaway: support your LGBTQ+ fellow citizens
Purple Friday (October 9) and Coming Out Day (October 11) are coming soon. On these days, the LGBTIQ+ community calls for extra attention to the right of everyone to be themselves and to feel free and safe to express that.
That right does formally exist, but we see that in daily public life, it is becoming more difficult for many LGBTIQ+ people to be themselves. Would you also like to support your fellow citizens from this community? Then hang up the rainbow/progress flag from October 9 to 11.
Don't you have this flag?
No problem. During the week of October 5, you can pick up a free rainbow/progress flag at City Hall to hang up at home. This is possible at the following times:
- Monday, October 5: 16:00 to 19:00
- Wednesday, October 7: 16:00 to 18:00
- Friday, October 9: 9:00 to 13:00
You can pick up the flag at the entrance of the Library, Stadhuisplein 1. We are giving one flag per person/household, and supplies are limited.
What does the rainbow flag stand for?
It began in 1978 with the rainbow flag as the global symbol of pride, diversity, and inclusion for the LGBTIQ+ community. The flag has six colors (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple) and was designed by artist Gilbert Baker. The colors represent the enormous diversity and unity within the community.
In 2018, the Progress flag was designed by Daniel Quasar. Groups that were historically less visible within the LGBTQ+ community were given extra emphasis. The black and brown colors represent people of color within the LGBTQ+ community, and the colors light blue, pink, and white specifically stand for trans and non-binary people. The yellow triangle with a purple circle refers to intersex people and was added to the flag later. The arrow shape points to the right and symbolizes progress and the fact that equality and inclusion still require attention.