Gay pride flag to fly from Seattle City Hall

SEATTLE — The Pride Flag will be flown on the Seattle City Hall flagpole for the first time June 1, marking the start of Gay Pride Month, Mayor Mike McGinn said Thursday.

The mayor will attend a 3:30 p.m. ceremony that day hosted by the Seattle LGBT Commission. The flag will also be raised on the day of the Pride Parade itself, on Sunday June 30. The Pride Flag will be flown in addition to the U.S. flag.

"The Pride flag is a symbol that represents Seattle's longstanding commitment to equality," McGinn said in a statement. "By flying the flag over Seattle City Hall, we honor that commitment to leading by example in the march toward equal rights for all."

The City of Seattle offers transgender health benefits and opened City Hall for 140 weddings the first day it was legal for same-sex couples to wed on Dec. 12, 2012. Voters in Washington state approved gay marriage with passage of Referendum 74, and the state's first license was issued the morning of Dec. 9 in King County.

Sabina Neem, co-chair of the Seattle LGBT Commission, said the organization is excited to host the event and "play a role in this historic occasion."

The public ceremony is planned for the courtyard outside Seattle City Hall at 600 Fourth Ave.

KIRO