The Sconi

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today delivered the Democratic Radio Address celebrating June as Pride Month in Wisconsin. Last week, the governor was proud to raise the Progress Pride Flag at the State Capitol, which will fly over the East Wing throughout the month of June. Gov. Evers ordered the Rainbow Pride Flag to fly over the East Wing of the Wisconsin State Capitol for the first time in state history in 2019, and a rainbow flag has flown over the Capitol each year since during the month of June.

The Progress Pride Flag will not disrupt other flags that regularly fly over the State Capitol building. The U.S. flag and Wisconsin state flag will continue flying on the East Wing flagpole above the Progress Pride Flag. The POW-MIA flag will continue flying on the North Wing flagpole as it does every day.

Happy Pride Month, Wisconsin!

This month, we’re celebrating LGBTQ people in Wisconsin, the broader LGBTQ community, and LGBTQ contributions and culture—which are a vibrant, critical part of our state and our country.

Because as much as this is a time to celebrate and honor the LGBTQ community, this is also a time we recognize the work we have before us and the challenges the LGBTQ community still faces.

Today, we continue to see harmful anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and legislation right here in Wisconsin, across the United States, and unfortunately, around the world—rhetoric that we know hurts our kids, emboldens hate and violence, and threatens the safety, security, and dignity of LGBTQ people.

We also already know our kids are facing a mental health crisis and that the statistics about our LGBTQ kids are especially bleak.

Now, I say all of that not to damper our Pride celebrations but to explain why raising the Pride Flag above the State Capitol each year and celebrating Pride Month is so important to me as governor.

For all those who’ve only ever wanted to be and belong, who’ve had to find their own family, and who’ve never known home: you belong here. You are family here. And you are welcome home here.

You have my word that I will always stand with you—including our trans and gender non-confirming kids—and will fight to protect LGBTQ Wisconsinites with every tool and every power I have.

Happy Pride, Wisconsin!

Thank you.

An online version of this release is available here.

Original source can be found here.