SAN MARCOS, CA (June 1, 2022) \u2014\u00a0Palomar College became the first community college in San Diego and Imperial Counties to raise the Progress Pride flag during a ceremony to observe the beginning of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer\/Questioning, Intersex, Asexual and Ally (LGBTQIA+) Pride Month on Wednesday, June 1, 2022.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs we raise this flag today, I think of all those people who have sacrificed so much in the past\u2014they dreamed of a moment like this,\u201d said Palomar College Superintendent\/President Dr. Star Rivera-Lacey. \u201cThe fact that we are raising the flag today here and at our education centers ensures that, when people come onto campus, they see a symbol of hope, safety and acceptance.\u201d<\/p>\n
In November 2021, the Palomar Community College District Governing Board passed Resolution 21-21613 recognizing June as Pride Month and supporting an annual Progress Pride flag-raising ceremony each June to honor the history of LGBTQIA+ movement.<\/p>\n
The Progress Pride flag was introduced in 2018 as a redesign of the original rainbow flag meant to emphasize inclusion and progression.<\/p>\n
At Wednesday\u2019s ceremony, dozens of Palomar students, faculty and staff gathered in the sunny courtyard between the Student Union and the flagpole to celebrate the raising of the flag for the first time.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a historic moment not only for our school, but also for our community,\u201d said Palomar\u2019s Governing Board Secretary, Kartik Raju. \u201cThis flag represents belonging. Palomar is a safe and inclusive environment where you can come and learn while being the most authentic \u2018you.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat this flag-raising really symbolizes to me is all of the change that has happened on our campus since 2009, when we first started talking about establishing a Pride Center,\u201d said Abbie Cory, Director of the Palomar College Pride Center and the Chair of the Palomar College Committee to Combat Hate. \u201cThat\u2019s 13 years of hard work to make our campus safe for members of the LGBTQ community, and especially our students. I will be so proud to see the flag flying over our campus as it welcomes our LGBTQ community and lets them know that they have a home here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is an important step in Palomar\u2019s continued commitment to growth, social justice and progress,\u201d said Faculty Senate Vice President Jenny Ferrero. \u201cThe Progress Pride flag is an important and clear symbol of liberation, resistance, unity, inclusion and allyship to the LGBTQ+ community.<\/p>\n
\u201cResearch and experience prove that students learn best in environments where they feel welcome and safe,\u201d Ferrero added. \u201cToday\u2019s flag-raising strongly communicates that Palomar College cares and has a commitment to support LGBTQ+ students, employees and community members.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Media contacts:<\/p>\n
Julie Lanthier Bandy, Public Affairs, jlanthierbandy@palomar.edu, 619-895-9297 or 760-744-1150 x2365<\/p>\n
Tom Pfingsten, Public Affairs, tpfingsten@palomar.edu, 760-744-1150 x2960<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"