The city of Renton held a Pride flag-raising event to celebrate the start of Pride Month.

At the flag raising on June 2, Mayor Armondo Pavone said this was the sixth year of raising the Pride flag and was the first time they have raised the flag accompanied by a proclamation at the Renton City Council meeting.

Pavone said the LGBTQ community has made substantial progress and achievements in Renton and throughout the United States in recent years.

“Still we must remain vigilant against becoming complacent or believing that discrimination and intolerance are relics of the past,” Pavone said. “We must continue striving for acceptance and respect for all individuals regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. We also need to keep education ourselves and others, and we should advocate for policies and laws that protect and support the LGBTQIA+ community.”

Winter Cashman, representing Renton Pride, joined Pavone in the flag raising.

“Raising this flag is more than a tradition. It’s a declaration. It says everyone in Renton deserves to feel safe, seen and celebrated,” Cashman said. “It’s a visual commitment to inclusion and to standing against hate, especially at a time when our country is increasingly showing hostility to the LGBTQ community by attacking our rights.”

Cashman used the recent death of actor Jonathan Joss as an example of a hate crime against the LGBTQIA+ community.

“When we gather here to raise this flag we are telling our community that we want you here,” Cashman said. “Progress isn’t linear. We’ve come a long way and there’s a lot to do, but visibility and representation matter. Tonight Renton shows that and stands on the right side of history.”

At the city council meeting, the council adopted the proclamation signed by the mayor. In the proclamation, the city of Renton committed to “fostering an inclusive environment through challenging times and evolving environments that affords opportunities for all,” displaying the Pride flag from June 2 to June 6, 2025 and proclaiming June 2025 to be LGBTQIA+ Pride Month. Cashman accepted the proclamation.

“Renton has backed up its word with action, from updating its ordinances to protect non-discrimination to six years of flying our flag outside of City Hall during Pride Month,” Cashman said. “Renton’s allies have stood strong, not just for performative support, but for real partnership, and that’s what makes our community special.”

This proclamation was more specific to the LGBTQIA+ community than the 2012 proclamation calling Renton an inclusive city. That proclamation included a commitment to protecting everyone who resides in, works in, or visits Renton without discrimination based on sexual orientation, among other demographics.