A municipality in Melbourne’s inner city said it would vote on a new “flag schedule” that would involve flying five different pride flags above town halls in succession.
At its meeting on Tuesday, the City of Yarra Council said it would discuss whether to display at least five different types of pride flags on the town halls in Richmond, Collingwood, and Fitzroy.
According to a Yarra council spokesperson, roughly 10% of the community in Yarra self-identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer, which is nearly twice the Victorian average of 5.7%.
Yarra acknowledges that inclusivity and representation are essential to preserving the health and wellbeing of our diverse community and is a proud leader and advocate in this field.
The council claimed that the recommendations of its rainbow advisory committee, which consisted of two council members and 14 residents, called for the installation of more inclusive flags on town halls.
The committee, according to the spokesperson, “provides advice to Council on matters pertaining to the LGBTIQA+ community and helps to guide the progress of Yarra’s LGBTIQA+ Strategy.”
The Council Report urges the council to stop flying the Rainbow Flag and start flying the Intersex-Inclusive Pride Flag on special occasions like Midsumma and the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia.
Highlight days for particular flags include International Lesbian Day and Lesbian Visibility Day, Pansexual Pride Day, and International Non-Binary People’s Day. The lesbian pride flag is flown on Lesbian Visibility Day.
On Intersex Day of Remembrance and Wear It Purple Day, the intersex-inclusive pride flag may also be flown.
The council informed The Herald Sun that it will not poll the public before making its choice.
Discussions with the Rainbow Advisory Committee were the extent of the public’s involvement in this issue, it said.
Due to the limited scope of the recommendations, officers advise against extensive community consultation.
At its subsequent meeting, the council will also talk about how pride flags should be flown during AFL and AFLW grand final weeks.
It read, “The other flag will be flown in the other locations, and the football club flag will be flown in one location.”