Pride in our city — Flag For Portland

1/18/21: Post has been updated with additional information.

The events of the first week of 2021 demonstrated that the powerful symbolism of a flag can be used both to unite and divide. Images of the storming of the US Capital Building nearly all include flags of some sort: US flags, MAGA flags, Don’t Tread on Me, etc.

Here at home, there was the heart wrenching news that members (or even suspected supporters) of our LGBTQ+ community were targeted with hate speech and threats. It appears that some of the victims were identified because they were flying a “Pride” flag on or near their home. It has since come to light that homes flying Black Lives Matter flags were also targeted.

Hey, you, just pick one and display it. I promise you, your LGBTQ+ friend, coworker, or neighbor won’t care if it’s not the latest and greatest version. (Image from My F Opinion) For more on the history and meaning behind the Pride flag, I send you … — Hey, you, just pick one and display it. I promise you, your LGBTQ+ friend, coworker, or neighbor won’t care if it’s not the latest and greatest version. (Image from My F Opinion) For more on the history and meaning behind the Pride flag, I send you to our friends at Wikipedia.

However, we in Portland, greater Portland, or Maine in general, can turn that negative attention into a strong message that this hate has no place here. The Portland City Council has requested that residents fly or display pride flags to tell members of our vulnerable communities that we stand in support of them and frankly to make it clear to bigots that they are the unwanted and unwelcome minority in our town. Obviously this is something that we at Flag For Portland can strongly get behind.

Portland City Hall lit up in Pride colors. Image from city website.

As much as I hope there are stunning visuals of streets lined with pride flags of all varieties, I also recognize that the symbolism of a flag only provides so much value. If, like me, you chose to hoist a fresh-out-of-the-package pride flag, I hope you consider taking further actions as well. Reach out to to your LGBTQ+ friends and acquaintances to see how they are doing and make sure they know that Portland will always be their town, contact your political representatives and ask what they are doing to support the targeted communities, or find a worthwhile charity to make a donation, such as Pride Portland, Out Maine, or Equality Maine.

Note: EqualityMaine has announced that they will provide Progress Pride Flags for any resident of Portland or South Portland free of charge (or donate if you can). Details here: https://www.equalitymaine.org/flag