A new flag was raised at Civic House this morning in celebration of the inaugural Nelson Pride Week which starts today.
The rainbow flag was raised this morning and will fly at Civic House for the duration of Pride Week which runs from Wednesday April 14 to Tuesday April 20.
Nelson Mayor Rachel Reese said flying the Pride flag was just one of several ways Council is showing support for the LGBTQIA+ community.
"Hopefully, flying the flag will help raise awareness and prompt some meaningful conversations about how we can all be more supportive and inclusive of the LGBTQIA+ community, well beyond the festival week.
“Diversity is something that should be celebrated, and I commend our LGBTQIA+ community for doing just that,” she says.
In February, Council's Infrastructure Committee voted to install a rainbow crossing in the central city.
Plans for the crossing's design and exact location are progressing, with Council talking to the community about different options.
City Centre Engagement Group Chair Mel Courtney reiterated the significance of raising the Pride flag.
“This flag-raising is important. We are a place where our differences are recognised, accommodated and interwoven into the very fabric of our community and civic culture.”
Last month, Council held a staff Pride Month designed to raise awareness and money, with proceeds going to support Q-Youth.
Other support initiatives included a Pride display at Elma Turner Library in March with a curated collection of titles that celebrate LGBTQIA+ communities. Free "Read the Rainbow" bookmarks are also available that include reading suggestions for young children through to young adults.
Deputy Mayor Judene Edgar said it was fantastic that Council was showing such support for Pride.
“Acknowledging Pride is an opportunity to reflect, to consider the discrimination and inequality that LGBTQIA+ people still face today, and to consider what more we all need to do to celebrate diversity.”
Nelson Pride Coordinator Aimée Borlase says they are pleased to have the support of Council in Pride Week endeavours
“We hope this will be the start of a new, collaborative relationship between Council and the LGBTQIA+ people of Nelson."
The Nelson Pride Week starts with Rainbow Pride History night at Founders Heritage Park, part of Tuku 21 Whakatū Heritage Month. The free event, from 6pm-8pm on Wednesday 14 April, offers an opportunity to sit down and speak with some of Nelson's "Pride pioneers". Bookings for the event can be made by emailing nelsonpridenz@gmail.com.
For other Nelson Pride Week events, please see https://www.facebook.com/nelsonpridenz.
