(It’s worth pointing out that many of these dissenters appear to be white men.) Pride flags have actually featured an appended, symbolic stripe in the past, as Amanda Kerri writes for The Advocate: many flew with a black stripe at the height of the AIDS epidemic, to represent those in the community lost to the disease. The city raised the new flag last week at City Hall, but while many have welcomed and celebrated its presence, others have criticized the design for politicizing the iconic symbol, with some even sharing their thoughts on social media with the hashtag #NotMyFlag.
The owners and staff of 11 businesses were subsequently required to undergo training in anti-discrimination laws. Bars in particular contribute to the problem, the report states, as most are owned by white, cisgendered, males who create environments that cater to those who identify similarly. The city has struggled to deal with racism and discrimination in its Gayborhood district that have been ongoing problems for decades: earlier this year, the Philadelphia Commission on Human Rights published a lengthy report on how LGBTQ people of color, women, and transgender individuals “often feel unwelcome and unsafe” in the Center City neighborhood. The effort is intended to address diversity issues in the global LGBTQ community, but the gesture carries a particular significance in Philadelphia. A flyer for the Philadelphia Office of LGBT Affairs’ #MoreColorMorePride campaign
