When you see the above flag what do you think of? What is the first thing that comes into your mind? If I asked you two years ago, before the Covid-19 pandemic, would the answers to those two questions have been different?
I need to start by clearly stating that I mean absolutely no disrespect to the NHS, to the heroic staff that work for it or anyone who has received treatment either. I absolutely do not. I am incredibly grateful to the NHS, not just for the work over the last 18 months but for the decades of work before that. I have my own personal experience of the NHS that leads me to this gratitude but that isn’t relevant to this article but I want to stress just how thankful I am and this article is absolutely no reflection of the NHS, staff or policies relating to it. In fact, quite the opposite.
Two years ago the flag above would have probably been described as the pride flag. It was a sign and a symbol of the LGBTQ+ community. The “Pride Flag” was originally designed by Gilbert Baker and has been through a few revisions since its original debut in 1978 but since around 1980 the six stripe: red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple, has been seen at Pride events across the world. It has been adopted by companies to show their support especially during June which is pride month due to the fact that the anniversary of the stonewall riots is June 28th (this is a topic for a whole other article as there is a lot to be said about companies using it to make profit!) Anyway, I digress! This flag has been a symbol of community, of hope, of unity, of protest and so much more. It has been a sign of a promise that there are better things to come and we will stand together to reach them. It has been displayed in buildings or worn by people to show safe spaces for the community or people that will accept you regardless of your sexual orientation or gender identity. It has signified freedom to be yourself; freedom from judgement.
However, in March 2020, rainbows were suddenly everywhere. Children painted them and put them in their windows, rainbow flags were raised, rainbow stickers adorned cars and buildings as they brightened people’s daily walks. They showed compassion and, as people stood on their doorsteps to clap one evening a week, the rainbows linked the country together during a crisis that we only believed happened in films or on TV. They showed gratitude and hope.
Pride month 2020 seemed to pass with seemingly little or no recognition. The rainbows remained but they meant something else. Something important but nonetheless, something different. As the LGBTQ+ community yearned for their chance to protest and to celebrate, our priorities were (rightfully so) on staying apart and not joining together. Whilst some charities and organisations did what they could to mark the month the reality is that the rainbows were still everywhere but with a very different meaning.
So what does Pride Month 2021 bring? Uncertainty. Continued isolation and loneliness. Most Pride events are not going ahead and the LGBTQ+ community are still struggling. The added isolation that the whole country has faced can be exasperated so palpably if you are locked down with homophobic/biphobic/transphobic family members or those who you haven’t felt safe to come out to yet. We, like so many others, have been separated from our support networks, from groups who validate our identity and our relationships. We are cut off from our safe zones which are free from judgement and those who don’t assume a cisgendered/heterosexual existance. We read about the impact of Covid-19 on people’s mental health and know that the reality is that this is felt even more strongly across minority groups, including the LGBTQ+ community.
What about the rainbow? A few weeks ago it was my turn to have my first vaccine. As I queued for the promise of release that was soon to be injected so unceremoniously into my left arm I noticed the staff wearing rainbow lanyards. Previously I would have seen maybe one member of staff displaying a rainbow lanyard and that person would have made me relax just a little bit; made me feel as if they were a safe person for me. This was no longer the case. Don’t get me wrong, my hope is that none of the staff would have been homophobic but there is a difference that is so very real to me after years of professionals presuming I am in a heterosexual relationship and having to awkwardly try to explain such things as to why I don’t need contraception and yet no, there is most definitely no chance of me accidentally falling pregnant and waiting for the “oh” or silent pause from the person sitting opposite me as they took a while to digest this information and decided how to respond. My whole life I have experienced either direct or indirect homophobia which has shaped my journey and my story but someone wearing a rainbow badge or lanyard would automatically signal to me that they wouldn’t make presumptions or, even if they did, they would at least be more open to other options; that they would accept me and acceptance is absolutely half the battle. Now, that isn’t the case. Undoubtedly there would have been staff there who would previously have been that one single person wearing a rainbow but that person was no longer visible to me.
So, what’s next? How do you make yourself visible as a safe person for the LGBTQ+ community? How do you ensure people know that you will not judge them? How do we continue to support the NHS whilst recognising that the LGBTQ+ community needs unique representation? Thankfully Daniel Quasar came up with a solution in 2018 when he designed the “Progress Flag”. He added a 5 coloured chevron to the traditional rainbow flag which represents “inclusion and progression”. He has utilised the three colours from the trans flag as well as brown and black to represent another area of intersectionality recognising that the LGBTQ+ community come from a multitude of cultures and backgrounds.
My own personal thoughts are that the NHS can have the rainbow flag. They deserve it. It still means support and hope for freedom; just for a freedom we previously took for granted. For me the progress flag needs to fly this June. It needs to be adopted by Pride and LGBTQ+ organisations. We need to raise awareness of its existence and we need to educate others on the fact it represents the LGBTQ+ community in a much needed way. It not only symbolises unity, hope and validation for those who are not heterosexual but also for those who are not cisgendered. It is more inclusive and indeed, as the name suggests, demonstrates the need for continued progression and unity even within the LGBTQ+ community itself. It recognises and celebrates the diversity within the community and shouts about it too!
However you identify, if you are a part of the LGBTQ+ community or an ally, if you want to demonstrate your inclusivity, your value for diversity and the recognition that you are a safe, non-judgemental person I urge you to purchase a progress flag badge, flag or similar. If you are involved in a Pride or LGBTQ+ organisation please consider adapting your logos to include the progress flag and educate others on why this is important.
Keep the rainbows in windows and on lanyards for the remarkable and unique NHS to whom we owe so much to and to whom I am eternally grateful.
Pride month this year sadly won’t see many pride events (though I fully support the decision to cancel them again) but maybe representation is even more important now. Therefore, I will, for one, be searching for the progress flag and will breathe just a little easier when I see it.
I will smile yet reflect on all that we have overcome but all that we are yet to change and achieve. Pride always was and will remain a protest until true and real equality exists for all. Yes it is a chance to celebrate and stand together in a place free from judgement. It is a magical, colourful and safe environment where you will find representation, validation and acceptance.
A place where you will feel less alone. Whilst we wait in anticipation for these to fill our streets with joy once more I for one will be bringing as much of that atmosphere to the lives of those I meet. I will educate others and do all I can to ensure that the future generation experiences the freedom, rights and acceptance we all crave so deeply. Maybe this Pride Month we can all pledge to do something to support the LGBTQ+ community, no matter how small and let the progress flag fly in the hope of better days to come for us all.
Sarah Maslen
sarah@lgbtqplus.org.uk
