Just weeks after the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court struck down Saint Lucia’s buggery laws as unconstitutional, the LGBTQ progress pride flag was raised publicly on the island for the first time.
Advocates called last Friday’s flag-raising a “new dawn” for the island’s LGBTQ community. The event took place at the Residence de France and officially launched 758 Pride’s scaled-down calendar of activities for Saint Lucia Pride 2025. For those in attendance, and the wider community, the moment served as both a celebration of progress and a reminder of remaining challenges.
“The pride flag flying high here today sends a powerful message of acceptance, safety and unity, not only to those gathered here, but to every LGBTQ person who may still be searching for hope and belonging,” said Randall Theodule, Communications Officer with the Eastern Caribbean Alliance for Diversity and Equality (ECADE).
Christiane Bourgeois, Director of International Relations at the French Embassy, which hosted the ceremony, expressed solidarity.
“The Residence de France at the French Embassy is a safe place for a more inclusive society, a safe place for everybody,” she affirmed, extending best wishes to the LGBTQ community.
For organisers, the symbolism of the flag being raised publicly for the first time was a powerful step toward visibility.
“We felt it necessary to show our presence. The idea is not for the flag to be flown all over Saint Lucia but the recognition — to be recognised as a community that is in Saint Lucia… that is very important, for the community to be visible,” explained Jessica St. Rose, 758 Pride’s founder.
Though this year’s Pride program was condensed, running from August 29-31, it featured a mix of public education campaigns, community celebrations, and roundtable discussions on advocacy and the implications of the landmark court ruling. For many, however, the raising of the pride flag will be remembered as a defining moment.
While the traditional rainbow pride flag was designed to symbolise the diversity and unity of the LGBTQ community, the progress pride flag includes elements from the transgender pride flag and representation for marginalised communities of colour.
