A second, more inclusive pride flag could be raised in the Castro.
In a letter to the city of San Francisco, the Castro Merchants, a city-based non-profit, advocated for the raising of a new, more representative flag to pair with the popular and well-known Gilbert Baker-designed Rainbow Pride Flag which iconically flies above the district, according to a report from KNTV.
The new version of the flag, the Progress Pride Flag, was created in 2018 by graphic designer Daniel Quesar in an effort to include more representation of marginalized communities.
The additional colors of black and brown represent people of color, and baby blue, pink and white symbolize the transgender community. The new colors are shaped into a chevron on the flag.
Santa Clara County raised the new flag in San Jose earlier this week.
The Board of the Castro Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Cultural District (CQCD) already voted to replace the Rainbow Pride Flag with the Progress Flag.
The Castro Merchants are asking for community support and hope to add the second flagpole at a different location but where both flags can be seen together.
"We propose to leave the internationally recognized, beloved, and historic symbol where it is and explore locations in the Castro to install a new flagpole," the Castro Merchants letter read. "We believe the creation of an alternative space would best reflect our two sincere beliefs: symbols can change over time yet queer history matters."
According to its website, the Castro Merchants "serves as the loud voice for its members with San Francisco city government aggressively lobbying for policies that support and encourage neighborhood business."
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