The flag is up. What does Kirkko­nummi do next?

On Monday 22 June 2026, the rainbow flag was raised at the Kirkkonummi municipal hall for the first time. The decision was made in March, when the council approved the Pride flag motion by a vote of 30–14. Going forward, the flag will be raised twice a year.

Is the Pride flag just a symbol?

Some argue that Pride flag-raising is just a symbol. For those who have faced discrimination, exclusion, or bullying because of their identity, however, the flag-raising carries a very concrete meaning. Official flag-raising tells residents that the municipality sees all of them, values them, and welcomes each person as they are. For many LGBTQ+ people, regardless of age, the flag can be a message that they are not alone.

According to the School Health Survey by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, one in seven secondary school students belonging to a sexual minority experiences school bullying at least once a week. The situation has also worsened in recent years. In such a climate, visible acts on behalf of equality matter especially. For a young person reflecting on their identity or feeling left out, the rainbow flag can be a message that they are not alone.

What concrete action is needed alongside the flag?

Kirkkonummi’s strategy emphasises equality, non-discrimination, and youth-friendliness. Raising the Pride flag is a step toward making these values real in practice. Values, however, are not realised through symbols alone, which is why concrete action is needed alongside the flag-raising.

Equality must also show in everyday encounters. Youth centres, schools, and student welfare services need enough expertise to identify and support the needs of LGBTQ+ youth, and to help young people experiencing loneliness, exclusion, or bullying. The autumn budget negotiations must assess whether current resources match this need.

Why is the municipal role highlighted right now?

In public debate, the importance of equality and the standing of organisations that support minorities are currently being questioned more visibly than before. That is precisely why the role of municipalities in building a safe and welcoming atmosphere stands out. At the local level, we meet each other in everyday life — in schools, in youth centres, and in hobbies.

The Finnish Municipal Act obliges the municipality to promote the well-being of its residents. That obligation does not end at the flagpole. Kirkkonummi has the chance to show that equality is more than a celebratory speech or a goal written into a strategy. Equality is concrete action that builds a safer municipality for all of us.

The flag is now up. The next task is to make sure it does not remain a mere gesture, but that we do the work to make Kirkkonummi a safe and welcoming municipality for everyone.

Authors: Suvi Annala (deputy councillor and deputy member of the municipal board) and Lauri Lavanti (municipal councillor & lead developer).

Also published in: Kirkkonummen Sanomat, 23 June 2026.