Flying the Progress Pride Flag 

A reboot of the LGBTQ2S+ Pride flag with an emphasis on inclusion and progression.

Daniel Quasar, who identifies as queer and nonbinary, designed this flag.

A: The Progress Pride flag includes the original six full-sized background colour stripes of the Pride flag plus the addition along the hoist side of the flag of five half-sized stripes (in the shape of a chevron) representing Trans individuals (light blue, light pink, white), marginalized People of Colour and Indigenous peoples (brown, black), as well as those living with AIDS, those no longer living, and the stigma surrounding them (black).

Using this flag positions King’s as a community that is seeking to care for the entire human person while affirming the identities of all people - a community that is learning, re-assessing, and responding to our ever-developing collective knowledge as it relates to equity, diversity and inclusivity initiatives. Use of the Progress Pride flag further embeds our commitment to inclusiveness on our campus.

• This symbolic representation of welcome and belonging for LGBTQ2S+ persons is consistent with several principles of Catholic social teaching, especially: 

• The inherent dignity of each human person 
• Solidarity with those who experience marginalization 

• Such symbolic actions also cohere with Christian/Catholic values of justice, mercy, hospitality and care for the whole human person. To quote Pope Francis, “In life, God accompanies persons, and we must accompany them, starting from their situation. It is necessary to accompany them with mercy” (Interview with Fr. Antonio Spadaro, S.J., https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2013/09/30/big-heart-open-god-interview-pope-francis) 
• As a symbol of welcome and inclusion, the flag is not an endorsement of specific sociological or philosophical theories regarding gender and sexuality. 
• As a Catholic university, King’s is committed to rigorous and respectful dialogue on important social, political, and ethical issues, and on what Pope John Paul II calls “uncomfortable truths” (Ex corde ecclesiae 32), always mindful of the dignity of all persons. Given the nature and mission of a university, the Church encourages members of the university community to engage in research and dialogue on questions of faith, spirituality, culture, and social justice. Dialogue at the level of scholarly research fosters understanding of the complexity of the issues and deepens the commitment to think about the nature of personhood.