The rainbow flag of LGBT+ acceptance will soon fly high above Federal Way City Hall in honor of Pride Month this June.

A flag raising ceremony will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, June 1 outside of Federal Way City Hall (33325 8th Avenue S.).

The flag is a symbol of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual, ally and pansexual (LGBTQIA+) community pride and social movements.

This year’s flag will also have a black stripe representing diversity and a brown stripe representing inclusivity according to the city.

Four pride flags have also been placed on display along S. 320th Street in downtown Federal Way. Another pride flag will also be placed on display at Celebration Park for the month of June.

Last year marked the first year in city history the pride flag was raised in Federal Way. In previous stride of acceptance, 2019 was the first year Federal Way recognized June as Pride Month.

The flag will be flown at City Hall for the entire month of June. June is also nationally recognized as LGBTQIA+ Pride Month to commemorate the Stonewall riots, which occurred at the end of June 1969.

“The red is for life, the orange is for healing, the yellow is for the sun, the green is for nature, the blue is for harmony, the violet is for spirit,” said longtime resident Catherine North at the 2020 event.

“The flag has nothing to do with hate.”

Federal Way Pride festival

Due to uncertainty surrounding health and safety guidelines, the Federal Way Pride festival is aiming to host its inaugural event in 2022, said organizer Allison Taylor.

To stay up to date on pride news in Federal Way, visit the Federal Way Pride Community group on Facebook.

A small group gathered for a historic event at City Hall on Monday, June 1, 2020. Olivia Sullivan/staff photo