'You are welcome here': Gov. Tony Evers raises pride flag above Wisconsin state Capitol for fifth year

MADISON - Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers on Thursday again raised the rainbow pride flag — a tradition he started five years ago that comes this year at a time of increased hostility toward public declarations of support for people who are gay or transgender.

"Raising the pride flag sends a message for all those who have ever only wanted to belong, who have had to find their own family, who have never known home. You belong here. You're family here. You are welcome here," Evers said, fighting tears.

"To the people who work in the other wings of this building, this is the people's house, and you too serve at the pleasure of the people of this state and, yes, that does mean LGBTQ Wisconsinites, too."

Evers said that the flag raising is one of his favorite days of the year, and that he was "jazzed as hell."

James Bond, the secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the first openly LGBTQ cabinet member, also address the crowd gathered outside the Capitol, sharing his story about coming to terms with his sexuality and his fear of not being accepted. Bond is now happily married with two children, and said representation and having a seat at the table matters.

"We raise this flag as a beacon, a reminder to all, you are welcome at the Wisconsin state Capitol," he said.

Evers first flew the symbol of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender pride for Pride Month in 2019, shortly after he was sworn in. The flag is flown over the Capitol's East Wing during the month of June.

Evers in 2019 said flying the pride flag "sends a clear and unequivocal message that Wisconsin is a welcoming and inclusive place where everyone can live without fear of persecution, judgment or discrimination."

At the time, state Rep. Scott Allen, R-Waukesha, sent out a tweet asking if flying an LGBTQ flag "is any more appropriate than erecting the Christian flag over the Capitol?"

Allen told the Journal Sentinel he doesn't "have anything against the gay pride flag," but added that he has a problem with anything other than the state and U.S. flag being flown over the Capitol.

"I think there is an inherent nature that we have to abide by a degree of neutrality in what we do as a state government," Allen said. "When we begin to hoist flags up for different philosophies or different attitudes or beliefs, it's inherently divisive."

Now, the ceremony will take place after national brands like Bud Light and Target have received heavy backlash for creating LGBTQ-focused marketing campaigns and merchandise.

Target last week pulled some LGBTQ merchandise from stores that it rolled out for Pride Month after confrontations with customers.

“Since introducing this year’s collection, we’ve experienced threats impacting our team members’ sense of safety and well-being while at work,” Target said in a statement to USA TODAY. ”Given these volatile circumstances, we are making adjustments to our plans, including removing items that have been at the center of the most significant confrontational behavior.”

Target has been celebrating Pride Month for a decade with an array of clothing, books and furnishings. The merchandise has been on sale since early May.

Items that have drawn negative attention include “tuck friendly” women’s swimsuits that allow trans women to conceal male genitals. Target did not say which items it was removing.

Fox News reported Tuesday that some Target stores, most of them in the rural South, were trying to avoid a “Bud Light situation” by relocating some Pride merchandise after conservatives complained, referring to the backlash against parent company Anheuser-Busch since it featured transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney in a promotional campaign.

LGBTQ groups condemned Target for bowing to pressure from "fringe" groups.

“Anti-LGBTQ violence and hate should not be winning in America, but it will continue to until corporate leaders step up as heroes for their LGBTQ employees and consumers and do not cave to fringe activists calling for censorship," Sarah Kate Ellis, president and CEO of GLAAD, said in a statement.

Molly Beck of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel contributed to this report.

Jessica Guynn of USA Today contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Gov. Tony Evers raises pride flag above Wisconsin Capitol for 5th year