The Pride Flag

Official Pride Flag and General Flag Etiquette

In 2021, Valentino Vecchietti (she/they) of Intersex Equality Rights UK adapted the Pride Progress flag to incorporate the intersex flag, thereby creating the Intersex-Inclusive Pride flag.

The Intersex-Inclusive Pride flag is the official Pride Flag of the federal public service of Canada!

In the spirit of all previous iterations of the Pride flags listed below, the Intersex-Inclusive Pride flag continues to represent persons with diverse sexual orientations and those with diverse gender identities and expressions, whilst also explicitly including the intersex community.

Journey to the Inclusive Pride flag

1978 Gilbert baker - The Rainbow Pride flag
1999 Monica helms - The Trans Pride flag
2013 Morgan carpenter - The Intersex Pride flag
2017 Amber Hikes - The More Color, More Pride flag
2018 Daniel Quasar - Progress Pride flag
2021 Valentino Vecchietti - Intersex-Inclusive Pride flag

For more information about the Intersex-Inclusive Pride flag, and its meaning, please visit our Resource Page.

Flag Specifications

All flags flown on federal buildings must follow strict protocol requirements, as identified by Public Services and Procurement Canada and Canadian Heritage, and respect flag specifications outlined by the flag creator(s).

For more information on the official specifications of the Intersex-Inclusive Pride flag, individuals are welcomed to connect with the flag creator, Valentino Vecchietti, directly by visiting their Global Inclusive Pride Flag webpage.

Copyrighting

Use of the Intersex-Inclusive Pride flag is permitted. However, Valentino Vecchietti, the creator of the Intersex-Inclusive Pride flag, asks to be credited/acknowledged in association with its use.

Flag Protocol

The manner in which flags may be displayed in Canada is not governed by legislation but rather by established practice. The etiquette outlined in this section is an adaptation of international usage and of customs that the federal government has been observing for many years.

Pride flag raising and displaying

The Intersex-Inclusive Pride flag can be flown at various times during the calendar year. These dates can include:

International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia – May 17
International Day of Pink (second week of April, annually)
Pride Month (dates vary across provinces and territories, from June to September annually)
Public Service Pride Week (third week of August, annually)

There is no directive that states that the National Flag of Canada must be the only flag to fly in the lobbies or other open spaces within Government of Canada properties. Similarly, while federal properties must display the National Flag of Canada on their exterior flagpole, other flags may also be displayed if a given property has the facilities to do so (i.e. additional flagpoles).

The most important thing to consider when displaying the Intersex-Inclusive Pride flag (or any other flag) on or in federal properties is to follow correct order of precedence for flags and to ensure that the National Flag of Canada is given proper respect by occupying the position of honour.

For more information on this subject, we encourage you to have a look at Canadian Heritage’s National Flag Etiquette and the rules for flying the National Flag of Canada, in particular the guidelines on how to display multiple flags both on interior and exterior poles. To help make sense of the proper order of flags listed in the links above, the Pride Flag is considered an organizational flag.

Pride flag raising during half-masting

The National Flag of Canada half-masting notices provide details about half-masting events in Canada, or in special circumstances, in a foreign country. See the Rules for Half-masting the National Flag of Canada for more information.

In the event that the National Flag is to be flown at half-mast, all flags within the surrounding stand of flags must be lowered accordingly.

Need more information about the Pride flag?

Please contact the PSP Secretariat

Email Us