Pride Flag Raised Outside Norwalk City Hall

NORWALK, CT — A number of Norwalk officials were in attendance as the Pride flag was raised outside City Hall during a ceremony held Thursday afternoon.

Mayor Harry Rilling noted the flag-raising ceremony marked the start of Pride Month, which is observed in June.

"In Norwalk, we do various things to help celebrate Pride Month," Rilling said, "as does the [city's] Triangle Community Center and other members of the LGBTQ+ community."

Among those in attendance were Edson Rivas, executive director of the city's Triangle Community Center, Board of Education Chair Colin Hosten, State Rep. Lucy Dathan, Town Clerk Richard McQuaid and members of the city's Common Council, Registrar of Voters office and police and fire departments.

Rilling said it was an honor for everyone at City Hall to be able to display the flag outside the building for the month of June.

"We're here, as you know, to help celebrate Pride Month and stand by and support our LGBTQ community," Rilling said, "to let them know that we support them, to work with them to do everything we possibly can. They're a wonderful part of our community."

Rivas said raising the flag outside City Hall was important for various reasons.

"Raising a flag for awareness and to let people know we are here is super important," Rivas said. "Language matters, and symbols like these matter."

He also urged community members to remember that pride and celebrating the LGBTQ+ community is something that should take place all year.

"Please remember that pride and celebrating minorities, celebrating the LGBTQ+ community, is not just one month out of a whole year," Rivas said. "It's not just one day out of a whole year; it is the whole year and then some. We are LGBTQ+ people 365 days a year, and we cannot hide that."