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Pasadena raises Pride flag, proclaims June 2026 as Pride Month
Summary
Pasadena City Hall hosted a Pride flag-raising and a ceremonial proclamation declaring June 2026 Pride Month, with speeches from Terry Madigan of the Tournament of Roses, Christian Port of the San Gabriel Valley LGBTQ Center, city officials and visiting legislative staff.
Pasadena raised the Pride flag at City Hall on June 1, 2026, marking the start of Pride Month and concluding with a ceremonial proclamation by city leadership. Terry Madigan, president of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association, Christian Port, president of the San Gabriel Valley LGBTQ Center, Council Member Jason Lyon and other officials addressed the crowd.
Madigan said he is the Tournament association's first openly gay president in its 138-year history and announced the 2027 Tournament theme, "Welcome." "Visibility is my superpower," Madigan said, urging members of the community to be "out, proud, and visible every day of the year." He told the audience the organization will name a Grand Marshal in the coming months and emphasized inclusion as central to the association's mission.
Christian Port framed the flag-raising as more than a celebration. "Today, as we raise the Pride flag, we're doing more than opening a celebration," Port said, noting the San Gabriel Valley LGBTQ Center's partnership with the Pasadena Public Health Department and citing research the Center and department conducted to document local needs. Port added that "visibility matters, but support systems save lives," and urged continued civic support and participation, including voting.
Council Member Jason Lyon praised LGBTQ Pasadenans' civic contributions and described the flag raising as an act of civic defiance and affirmation. "We raise the flag to remind ourselves that we are a city that not just tolerates, but celebrates difference," Lyon said, listing local institutions where LGBTQ people serve in leadership roles.
Vice Mayor Jessica Rivas offered brief remarks in support of the city's practice of raising the flag annually. Spencer Abbott, representing Senator Sasha Perez's office, presented a certificate of recognition from the California State Senate. Miles Keeling, field representative for Assemblymember John Harabedian, spoke on behalf of the Assemblymember's office and encouraged visible support for the community.
On behalf of the Pasadena City Council, the mayor presented commendations to Madigan and Port and proclaimed the month of June 2026 in the City of Pasadena as Pride Month. The ceremony closed with music and final words urging the city to continue protecting and including LGBTQ residents.
The event was ceremonial: speakers emphasized visibility, partnerships with public health, and continued civic engagement rather than announcing new ordinances or budgetary measures.
