SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. — The LGBTQ Pride flag will fly high at San Diego's City Hall for the first time in the city's history Monday, as June is recognized as National LGBTQ Pride Month.
Mayor Todd Gloria was joined at a media conference Monday morning by civic and LGBTQ community leaders to raise the rainbow Pride Flag.
The mayor said raising the Pride flag is part of his efforts to create a more inclusive San Diego and show the City’s support for the LGBTQ community.
"The rainbow flag flying proudly at city hall for the first time sends an important message to our LGBTQ community: we see you, we support you and you belong here," said Gloria. "This flag is a representation of the LGBTQ community's resilience, the struggles we have faced and a reminder that we must continue to fight for inclusiveness and respect in many parts of the world."
Gloria is San Diego's first LGBTQ elected mayor, making San Diego the largest city in the country to elect an openly gay man. President pro tempore of the California State Senate Toni Atkins, a gay woman, served as acting mayor for around six months in 2005.
On Friday during a briefing, the Pentagon said it will maintain an existing policy that bars "unofficial flags" from being flown at U.S. military bases. Pentagon Spokesman John Kirby said the Pentagon will not make an exception for the rainbow-colored Pride flag that represents the LBGTQ community.
"After some careful consideration, the Department will maintain the existing policy from July of 2020 regarding the display or depiction of unofficial flags," he said. "So there won't be an exception made this month for the Pride flag."
WATCH RELATED: San Diego Unified School District marks start of Pride Month with raising of flags (June 2021)
