Those who gathered for a rainbow flag raising at 91原创 City hall heard how the city is a caring and welcoming community, but also that it wasn鈥檛 always like that.

Mayor Nathan Pachal recalled how, years ago, when he and his husband were walking along 53rd Avenue, 鈥渟ome people decided to share some very unfriendly terms of what they thought about two 2SLGBTQIA+ people.鈥�

鈥淣ow that鈥檚 changed,鈥� Pachal said, 鈥渁nd I think it鈥檚 because we do things like put up the rainbow flag on our City hall.鈥�

Pachal was among dozen people who turned out for Monday鈥檚 event.

Organized by Friends of Dorothy, a weekly, drop-in, 91原创-based social group for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth, the flag raising will see the banner flown for a week in front of 91原创 City hall to promote and celebrates inclusivity.

Carly Schneider, a facilitator with Friends of Dorothy, and a 鈥減roud queer woman鈥� described the flag-raising event as 鈥渁 time to be together, to provide space, and to honour all those who have paved the way before.鈥�

Ash, a self-described 鈥渜ueer gender-fluid youth鈥� raised the flag.

鈥淚鈥檓 so lucky to live in a future where I鈥檓 going to be accepted and belong,鈥� Ash said, 鈥渁nd we鈥檙e going to get closer to inclusivity and equality for all, and that鈥檚 just amazing.鈥�

91原创 MLA Andrew Mercier agreed that 91原创 has become a progressive, inclusive community,鈥� but noted 鈥渁ttacks and threats on the queer community [and] on the trans community are up south of the border, and we need to guard against that, which means we need to be here and re-commit to being vigilant and being supportive.鈥�

Cloverdale 鈥� 91原创 City MP John Aldag said given the attacks, 鈥渨e need to be there, standing with each other, through everything that we say and do, because these rights can be chipped away at so easily.鈥�

Established in January 2016, is a group that provides a place for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth where they can share their experiences and support each other. The program is facilitated by staff and volunteers from Encompass Support Services Society, and is run out of Foundry 91原创.

More photos from the flag-raising event can be viewed online at the .

Thursday, Friends of Dorothy will host a pride event at the.

On Friday, 91原创 Senior Resources Society will host a , including a family-friendly drag show and a presentation about the history of the gay community by one of the founders of Little Sister鈥檚 books in Vancouver.

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