Rainbow flag flies over Hackney Town Hall for the first time ever
Hackney marked a historic moment on Monday 3 July, when the rainbow flag was raised for the first time ever over Hackney Town Hall.
The flag was hoisted by Mayor of Hackney Philip Glanville and the Speaker Cllr Soraya Adejare, and will remain above the Town Hall for the Pride in London March on Saturday 8 July, which will see 150 people from Hackney – the borough’s biggest contingent ever – marching in solidarity to support equality and rights for LGBTQI+ communities in Hackney and across the globe.
Council staff, local LGBTQI+ businesses, charities, community and youth groups will walk alongside Hackney’s float for this year – a Council bin lorry – complete with rainbow flag touting waste operatives, whose message will be: don’t trash love.
Flying the Rainbow flag above the Town Hall at the civic heart of Hackney is a powerful symbol of our commitment to LGBTQI+ equality and a celebration of diversity. It shows the world that we as a borough positively affirm our passion for equality, challenging all forms of hate such as homophobia and transphobia, while celebrating and standing with the LGBTQI+ community here and across the globe.
There are many ways Hackney Council is celebrating and supporting the LGBTQI+ community. As well as flying the Rainbow Flag, the Council has also launched Hackney Pride 365, a community led festival that celebrates the borough’s historic, diverse and boundary-breaking LGBTQI+ community.
During the latter part of the 20th century LGBTQI+ communities have moved from being invisible and subject to oppressive legislation to now thankfully having recognised and clearly defined status. In solidarity with the ongoing struggle for LGBTQI+ equality across the world and in celebration of Hackney Pride 365, today it gives me immense pride to see the rainbow flag flying above the Town Hall, reaffirming the principle of acceptance without exception.
Keep up-to-date, sign up to events, and find out more about Hackney Pride 365 by following: #Pride65, www.facebook.com/hackneypride365; or visit: www.hackney.gov.uk/lgbt.
Watch Mayor Glanville and the Speaker talk about the importance of raising the flag.