Mayor Francis Slay watched the flag — pink, light blue and white — as it slowly rose outside St. Louis City Hall on Monday morning.

“It’s a message we’re sending that the city is welcoming to everyone regardless of who you love or how you identify yourself,” Slay said of the flag, a symbol recognizing transgender people.

By raising it in June, celebrated around the country as Pride month, the city is demonstrating that transgender people are getting the attention they deserve, not only now but throughout the year, Slay said.

Two transgender flags were raised, one outside City Hall, at Tucker Boulevard and Market Street, and another at 1520 Market, a building three blocks west housing many city offices, including the health department.

The idea was proposed by PROMO, an organization advocating statewide for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights.

“I approached the city five or six weeks ago, and the response immediately was: ‘Of course,’” said Katie Stuckenschneider, PROMO’s communication director.