Dear Hastings Community, Friends, and Supporters,

As we prepare for another incredible Hastings Pride, we want to take a moment to reflect on what makes our event so vital. Pride is, and always will be, a protest march wrapped in a celebration. It is a space dedicated entirely to championing LGBTQIA+ rights, visibility, and liberation, both locally and globally.

To ensure that our collective voice remains strong, clear, and focused on the unique challenges faced by our community, the Hastings Pride Committee reviews our guidelines each year. Our goal is to create an environment where everyone under the LGBTQIA+ umbrella feels safe, valued, and united.

With this in mind, we are introducing a specific update to our parade rules for this year regarding flags and symbols.

LGBTQIA+ rights and human rights transcend international boundaries, geopolitical conflicts, and national identities. The struggles we face as a community are global, yet deeply personal. To ensure our march remains a unified platform dedicated solely to LGBTQIA+ liberation, we will not be permitting national flags in the parade.

Instead, we want to see the streets flooded with the beautiful, diverse array of Pride flags, banners, and symbols that represent our community’s history, intersectionality, and ongoing fight for equality.

Pride is a space where we come together to support and promote change specifically for the benefit of the LGBTQIA+ community. To participate in the parade, all groups must continue to demonstrate a year-round commitment to pro-LGBTQIA+ policies and ensure their messaging remains firmly rooted in supporting our community.

We are incredibly proud of the diverse, passionate community here in Hastings. By keeping our focus on the liberation and safety of LGBTQIA+ people everywhere, we can ensure that Pride remains a powerful, inclusive, and transformative space for all of us.

Thank you for your ongoing support, your passion, and your commitment to keeping Hastings Pride safe, vibrant, and unified.

Warm regards,

The Hastings Pride Committee