Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., posted a message of support for transgender Americans to social media on Sunday.

"Discrimination has no place in our society. I am proud to display this flag as a symbol of my support for the transgender people across the country. We must stand with transgender people in all of our communities."

"The flag was hung outside our Senate office yesterday to recognize transgender visibility day, which is March 31," Sanders staff wrote in a Tuesday email.

The flag will remain flag for one week, as requested by the National Center for Transgender Equality, according to staff.

What is a transgender flag?

The trans pride flag was created in 1999 and first flown at a Phoenix LGBT pride celebration in 2000, according to Point 5cc, a trans awareness website. The flag was designed by Monica Helms, an openly transgender American woman.

Helms said the pastel colors represent male and female.The white stripe is for intersex people.

There are many other pride flags, including the original rainbow flag, created by Gilbert Baker in 1978.

This is the second trans flag hung by a member of Congress this year. Sanders follows Rep. Jennifer Wexton, D-Va., who raised a transgender pride flag outside her new office at the Capitol in January. Wexton stated she displayed it to support friends and family members in her community.

Sanders and LGBTQ rights

Sanders, who announced his bid to become the 2020 Democratic presidential nominee, has a steady track-record supporting the rights of LGBTQ people, according to a PBS News Hour summary in February.

The senator supported gay civil unions in Vermont in 2000 and has opposed:

The military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.

Laws passed that would block transgender people from using the bathrooms of their choice in states other than Vermont.

President Donald Trump’s push to ban transgender people from the military.

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Contact Nicole Higgins DeSmet ndesmet@freepressmedia.com or 802-660-1845. Follow her on Twitter @NicoleHDeSmet.