New Pride flag 'more than just a rainbow'

Thursday 10 September 2020

Liberate have unveiled a new 50 metre LGBTQ+ identity flag, which will join the more prominent 'rainbow' flag in the Channel Islands Pride parade march this Saturday.

The new flag is split into ten sections, each representing one of the members that makes up the LGBTQ+ community. While the rainbow flag is known to be inclusive of all identities, Liberate CEO Ellie Jones said the new identity flag is there to support those whose identities are lesser-known, or more commonly face discrimination.

"It's great for us to be able to show that inclusivity more," she said. "People sometimes say 'well, doesn't the rainbow flag cover everyone?' but sometimes we need to go out of our way to show that we are inclusive to other identities."

Pictured: "I always forget how impressive the new flags are when they come out" - Ellie Jones, CEO of Liberate, on the unveiling of the new 50m inclusivity flag.

"It's about making sure the smaller minorities within the LGBTQ+ community know that we at Liberate and Channel Islands Pride will go out of our way specifically to be allies to them. There's a potential movement, especially with an election coming up, of people who may not be as welcoming to trans people, for example,"

"That's why we put the trans flag at the front: we want to make a statement. We will be making sure we don't leave our trans siblings behind."

The flag, which was sponsored by KPMG, includes stripes from the Trans, BAME (Black and Ethnic Minorities), Non-Binary, Bisexual, Pansexual, Asexual, Intersex, Lesbian, Gender Fluid and Ally flags. At 16:00 on Saturday it will be paraded from Candie Gardens to Market Square, where it will be displayed.

Its unveiling is a signal that Pride is set to go ahead, after an uncertain and tumultuous year. Everything is ready: three of the four off-island entertainers are 'out' (of self-isolation), and a full flight of 60 people from the Isle of Man will be joining Guernsey for the celebrations.

Pictured: The new inclusivity flag is one of many symbols of Pride appearing in Guernsey this week, along with a rainbow flower bed and newly-painted steps in Market Square, where the main event will take place on Saturday September 12.

With two stages of music and a variety of extra activities including Zumba, Silent Disco, two stages of music and a performance from the Rainbow Chorus Choir, CI Pride is potentially the only in-person Pride event taking place this year. A family area with graffiti t-shirts, face painting and Drag Queen Story Hour is also included.

For those who aren't able to attend, the Main Stage in market square will be broadcast digitally on CI Pride Radio, and there will be other events on both Friday and Sunday. More information about the day's events can be found HERE.