Color Has Meaning
It’s hard to miss the colorful, new flag hanging in the front of the church, and that is intentional! As a More Light church, Trinity has proclaimed its commitment to welcome and affirm the LGBTQIA+ community. More Light Presbyterian churches work for “the full participation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, and asexual/ally (LGBTQIA+) people in the life, ministry and witness of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and in society.” This flag is one of our visible signs of welcome to anyone passing by.
You may be more familiar with the original rainbow pride flag, created in the 1970’s at the beginning of the gay rights/gay pride movement. That flag included the 6 traditional rainbow colors that signify: life, healing, sunlight, nature, harmony/peace, spirit. Our flag is the new “progress pride” flag, created in 2018 by queer designer Daniel Quasar to highlight the more recent conversations within the LGBTQIA+ and wider communities about inclusion and movement forward, as well as progress that is still needed.
Added to the original flag, the new chevron on the left/top of the flag contains white, pink, and light blue, which are the colors of the transgender flag, and brown and black stripes to represent people of color and also those lost to AIDS. The arrow shape evokes movement forward, but also the need for ongoing progress, especially for marginalized LGBTQIA+ people of color and transgender people. (Check out the links below for more information on the new flag and on the importance of transgender people of color in the birth of the gay rights movement at the Stonewalll riots of June 1969 and beyond.)
When you pass Trinity’s pride flag, know that we are sending a message to the wider world that our theology aligns with the loving, welcoming and justice-minded theology of all More Light churches and that we wish to be a part of conversations about inclusion and progress.
https://www.them.us/story/
https://www.kickstarter.com/
