To mark Pride Month in June, rainbow flags are being flown all over the world – as a symbol of diversity and acceptance of different gender identities and sexualities. The city of Mozart is also showing its most colourful side in many places throughout June.

The rainbow is the symbol of queer visibility around the world, but how did this come about? The rainbow became an international symbol of the queer community in the late 1970s. The first rainbow flag was designed in 1978 by the American artist and activist Gilbert Baker. Its vibrant colours represent diversity, openness and pride in different identities. Over time, the flag spread worldwide and became a symbol of visibility and equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex and other queer people.

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And why is June traditionally Pride Month? June is considered Pride Month because the Stonewall Riots took place in New York in June 1969, an event regarded as a major turning point in the fight for the rights of queer people. During the riots, patrons and staff at the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar, resisted a police raid.

Rainbow flags and Zebra crossings

Now, more than 50 years later, Pride Month in June and the rainbow flags have become an integral part of the queer community. Institutions in Salzburg such as the AMS (Employment Service), the Mozarteum and Paris Lodron University also fly large rainbow flags in front of their buildings to mark Pride Month.

The rainbow zebra crossing at Mirabellplatz (painted in 2021) and the one in the Andräviertel district (painted in 2023) have now become a familiar sight in Salzburg. They are visible all year round and demonstrate, even beyond Pride Month, that Salzburg is a cosmopolitan city – Salzburg shows colours.

Respect for people from all walks of life

New this year: For the first time, Salzburg’s trolleybuses have been decorated with rainbow flags. A gesture of acceptance and mutual respect. In cities such as Vienna, this gesture has been a feature of public transport for years.

However, this colourful display by the Salzburg Transport Association raised a few eyebrows among Salzburg politicians, including Paul Dürnberger. He is the group leader (chairman) of the right-wing FPÖ party in Salzburg. In response to his enquiry as to who had organised the display and what the aim was, the Salzburg Transport Association replied publicly: “As a public transport company, we carry and employ people from a wide variety of backgrounds. Salzburg Linien stands for treating all passengers and staff with respect.”

In Salzburg, too, there are those who question whether the visibility of the LGBTQIA+ community through rainbows will still be necessary by 2026. The issue of flying flags on trolleybuses is a current example of this debate. Florian Niederseer, founder and chair of the queer rural association Heublumen, responds to these questions: “Even though they are small flags, they are a significant sign of appreciation. As a queer person in Salzburg, you feel seen by them and are immediately much more inclined to hop on the trolleybus.”
Sebastian Brandstätter