Fitchburg council unanimously approves flying Progress Pride flag at Legislative Building

The Fitchburg City Council granted petition 129-26 by unanimous consent on June 16 to fly the Progress Pride flag outside the Legislative Building for two weeks in June 2026. The petition was submitted by Councilor Andrew J. Van Hazinga and DJ Tardiff and took effect after the council’s approval.

The action followed a written public-forum submission from resident Tessa Poirier who described, in a narrative account, the daily burdens faced by LGBTQIA+ youth and urged the council to acknowledge Pride Month with the flag. In that submission Poirier wrote, “Maybe nothing is wrong with me and something is wrong with those who hate,” illustrating the visibility and reassurance supporters said the flag can provide. Resident Adriana Tardiff also spoke in support of the petition during the public-comment portion; the meeting record notes her oral support but does not provide a verbatim quote.

Councilors approved the petition by unanimous consent (11 in favor, 0 opposed). The council record shows the petition was granted during the petitions portion of the agenda and does not record any formal motion beyond the suspension of rules to consider the item. The petition calls for the Progress Pride flag to be flown in front of the Legislative Building for two weeks beginning in June 2026.

Supporters who spoke or submitted written remarks framed the flag as a public symbol intended to signal inclusion and safety for LGBTQIA+ residents, especially young people. The council did not record formal dissent in the meeting minutes. The council moved on to other business after the action.