Pride flags fly outside Michigan state building in historic first

Pride flags flew outside the George W. Romney building, the main office of Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D), for the first time in history.

Whitmer announced the flags were installed outside the state building in Lansing over Twitter on Saturday.

“The Romney Building in Lansing is feeling especially proud today,” she wrote in a tweet, which also featured footage of the rainbow flags being installed on the building.

The Romney Building in Lansing is feeling especially proud today pic.twitter.com/fi3d41IMs8

— Governor Gretchen Whitmer (@GovWhitmer) June 15, 2019

“Wishing a happy #pride to all celebrating!” she said in a follow-up post featuring a photo of the iconic flags once they were put up.

Wishing a happy #pride to all celebrating! pic.twitter.com/YYbkOFm22r

— Governor Gretchen Whitmer (@GovWhitmer) June 15, 2019

The announcement came a week after Whitmer signed a proclamation declaring June 2019 as Pride Month in the state.

“This is an important step in ensuring LGBTQ Michiganders are treated with the respect they deserve, but there’s still more work to do,” Whitmer said in a statement at the time. “We must all press forward to ensure Michigan steps up to the forefront of advancing civil rights for LGBTQ individuals, and that includes expanding the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to protect everyone, no matter their sexual orientation or gender identity.”

“When we work together to ensure our state requires that everyone is treated equally under the law, we are able to recruit and retain the talent Michigan needs to thrive,” she added then. “No matter who you love or how you identify, you are welcome and wanted here.”