Officials take pride raising Pride flag over Capitol

For the first time in history, state officials at the State Capitol building in Sacramento raised the rainbow Pride flag, according to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office.

Newsom, who was mayor of San Francisco when the city first began issuing same-sex marriage licenses back in 2004, requested that the capitol building fly the flag in honor of Pride Month.

The flag will be flown on the building’s main flagpole through July 1, Newsom’s office said.

In a statement, Newsom said:

“In California, we celebrate and support our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community’s right to live out loud — during Pride Month and every month.”

Newsom continued:

“By flying the pride flag over the State Capitol, we send a clear message that California is welcoming and inclusive to all, regardless of how you identify or who you love.”

Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) said:

“Seeing the Pride flag prominently flown at the capitol reminds people everywhere that while some states and the federal government dehumanize LGBTQ people, California stands firmly for equality and inclusion.”

While this year is the first time the Pride flag will be flown outside the capitol building, in the past the flag has been hung over balconies both inside and outside. Additionally, in 2015, the building’s dome was illuminated in rainbow colors after the U.S. Supreme Court decided that the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution should require all states to issue and recognize same-sex marriages.