US Embassy Raises Intersex-Inclusive Progress Pride Flag for 1st Time

On the afternoon of Monday 26 June 2023, the US Embassy in Luxembourg held an Intersex-Inclusive Progress Pride Flag raising ceremony, in the context of LGBTQI+ Pride celebrations in the United States and in the Grand Duchy.

Whilst the US Embassy has flown the rainbow (Pride) flag since 2015, this marks the first year that it is flying the Intersex-Inclusive Progress Pride Flag.

Guests at this ceremony included Luxembourg's new Minister for Family Affairs, Integration and the Greater Region, Max Hahn, the First Gentleman of Luxembourg, Gauthier Destenay, members of Luxembourg LGBTQI+ civil society organisations and representatives of other foreign missions in the Grand Duchy, among others.

There were speeches by the US Embassy's Deputy Chief of Mission, Michael Konstantino, US Ambassador to Luxembourg, Thomas "Tom" Barrett, Minister Max Hahn and the President of Rosa Lëtzebuerg asbl, Tom Hecker, before the flag raising.

Their speeches focused on this event and Pride in general serving as an opportunity to celebrate the progress and achievements made in the fight against discrimination and to honour LGBTQI+ people and their allies. However, as Michael Konstantino pointed out, certain challenges still exist for marginalised communities. Minister Hahn recalled that LGBTQI+ rights are "not a given" and "have to be defended every day". The speakers lamented that about 70 countries still criminalise same sex relations.

US Ambassador Tom Barrett also reflected on the history of Pride Month in the United States: Pride is celebrated each June to honour the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York City, a series of events between police and LGBTQI+ protesters which served as a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the US. The US Ambassador noted the significance of raising the Intersex-Inclusive Progress Pride Flag for the first time this year: as the LGBTQI+ community evolved, so too did this symbolic flag, which (in addition to the traditional rainbow colours) now includes a chevron with black and brown stripes to represent persons of colour, pink, blue and white stripes to represent transgender persons and gold with a purple circle to represent intersex persons. He added that raising the flag on this occasion demonstrated the US' continued commitment to the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons.

Tom Hecker later described the flag as a symbol of diversity and what humanity can achieve through this diversity, as well as the fact that "life is colourful, beautiful, different and diverse" - something which should be celebrated all year round.

The flag was then raised on its main flagpole at the US Embassy, where it will fly under the US flag for the rest of June (Pride month in the US) as well as throughout July (when Luxembourg holds its Pride celebrations).

The flag raising was followed by a reception, featuring drinks and rainbow cupcakes.