Santa Barbara raised more than a flag Monday. It sent a message of hope, visibility and inclusion.
Around 50 people gathered outside De La Guerra Plaza Monday afternoon as city leaders and LGBTQ+ advocates raised the flag, marking the beginning of Santa Barbara’s Pride Week.
A July 28 City Council resolution led to today’s event, authorizing the flag to be displayed at City Hall throughout August. Organizers said that the occasion reflects decades of advocacy and serves as a message of support to LGBTQ+ residents, families, young people and city employees.
“To have the city, for the first time in its history, stand up as an ally is a powerful signal to LGBTQ city workers that they can show up unapologetically without fear of retribution,” said Julio Roman, executive director of the Pacific Pride Foundation.
The ceremony was organized in partnership with the Pacific Pride Foundation, PFLAG Santa Barbara, the Santa Barbara Transgender Advocacy Network, Youthwell and the Unitarian Society of Santa Barbara.
“This moment now belongs in our city’s history,” said Deja Heartly, director of programs for Pacific Pride Foundation. “May every LGBTQ+ person who sees this flag – especially our young people – know that you belong here, you are part of this community, and your life, your voice and your future matter.”
For Heartly, the ceremony represented more than the addition of a flag outside City Hall. It established a public measure of the city’s commitment to the LGBTQ+ community.
“Today we didn’t just raise a flag,” Heartly continued. “We raised visibility, we raised hope and we raised the standard.”
Roman emphasized to the News-Press that visibility right now is important, especially amid ongoing concerns about the safety and acceptance of LGBTQ+ people.
“Visibility is important now more than ever because of the safety that it represents,” Roman said. “You can’t protect what you can’t see.”
City Administrator Kelly McAdoo attributed the inaugural flag raising to years of advocacy from Santa Barbara’s LGBTQ+ community and support from the City Council.
“I think it’s the culmination of several years of advocacy by our LGBTQ communities,” McAdoo said.
For Santa Barbara, she said, displaying the flag on government property communicates that the city intends to welcome all of its residents.
“It signifies that this community is welcoming and inclusive of all of our members, regardless of their background or who they choose to love,” McAdoo said.
Even though June nationally is recognized as Pride Month – and the city issued its own Pride Month proclamation on June 9 – Santa Barbara has traditionally held its Pride celebration in August. McAdoo said the city chose to raise the flag this month to coincide with that local history.
The city has made efforts to support Pacific Pride Foundation via grants for community services and cultural programming. McAdoo mentioned the city’s annual support for the Pride festival and benefits provided to LGBTQ+ municipal employees as examples of its broader involvement.
Roman said he hopes that that partnership can continue after the flag is taken down, particularly through funding for the foundation’s counseling and its harm reduction programs. He also called for continued city support of policies promoting diversity and inclusion.
“This is an important symbol to recognize all members of our community and make everyone feel included and equal in the eyes of our government,” McAdoo said.
McAdoo said she was unaware of any opposition to the flag raising and hopes the city continues flying it each August unless a future City Council decides otherwise.
Monday’s ceremony set in motion a week of events leading up to the Pacific Pride Festival, which will be held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday at Chase Palm Park. The free, all-ages event will host more than 70 vendors, featuring live performances and family activities.
