Vallejo was the first Solano County city to raise the LGBTQ flag in 2017 “and it’s something to be proud of,” Bilbo said. “These folks are part of our community and they are acknowledged, welcomed and supported.”
The new “progressive flag” includes black and brown stripes and “trans colors,” which are “indicative of people of color who are within the LGBT community,” Bilbo said. What this flag represents to me is to not just observe, but recognize and honor those principles many of us fought for: Equal justice for all.” The raising of the pride flag Tuesday “represents acceptance, just as the flag of our country does,” McConnell said, adding that “it’s time we gave more than lip service to the idea of acceptance and start practicing it day to day. The new ‘progressive pride’ flag raised in front of Vallejo City Hall. President Bill Clinton proclaimed the first “GBTQ Pride Month” in June of 1999, commemorating the 1999 Stonewall riots and the police raid against gays that preceded them in New York City. “I think there are similarities between this movement and what’s going on in the nation, in California and in Vallejo with respects to the fact both of these movements (Black Lives Matter and LGBTQ) have risen out of police activities.” The flag and proclamation “represent the fact that we’re all in this together,” McConnell said.
