Disability Pride Month Marked In Gibraltar
The Supported Needs and Disability Office is marking Disability Pride Month throughout July with a series of initiatives promoting inclusion, awareness and support for persons with disabilities.
The Supported Needs and Disability Office is marking Disability Pride Month throughout July with a series of initiatives promoting inclusion, awareness and support for persons with disabilities.
A statement from the Government follows below:
Disability Month is celebrated internationally every July, and it is known around the world as Disability Pride Month.
While the word "pride" is often associated with LGBTQ+, Disability Pride carries a different meaning; it is about being proud of having a disability. It is rooted in civil rights and self-acceptance. It is not about claiming that disability is easy or that the challenges people face should be minimized. Instead, Disability Pride is about rejecting shame and stigma, embracing disability as a natural and valuable part of human diversity, and recognizing the strength, identity, and contributions of people with disabilities.
Disability is not something to be hidden or overcome, but an important aspect of many people's lived experiences. It highlights the resilience, innovation, creativity, and leadership of persons with disabilities in every sector of society.
The Supported Needs and Disability Office (SNDO), under the Ministry of Equality, proudly joins communities across the world in recognizing the history, achievements, and contributions of persons with disabilities. Throughout the month, the SNDO will celebrate Disability Pride Month by sharing the stories of persons with disabilities in our community. The first video can be found on HMGOG’ S YouTube Channel by following the link below:
The Disability flag will also be flown today at the frontier, Mayor’s Parlour and Hospital.
The Disability Pride Flag is a powerful symbol of the disability community's diversity, resilience, and solidarity. Its muted charcoal background represents mourning for disabled people lost to violence, neglect, discrimination, and ableism, while the diagonal band cutting across the flag symbolizes breaking through barriers and challenging stereotypes. Each of the five colours represents a different aspect of the disability community; red for physical disabilities, gold for neurodiversity, white for invisible and undiagnosed disabilities, blue for disabilities caused by mental health issues, and green for sensory disabilities. Together, the flag reflects the broad spectrum of disability experiences and serves as a reminder that accessibility, inclusion, and equal opportunity benefit everyone.
Every Monday morning throughout the month of July, the SNDO will be hosting on-location clinics at the Hospital lobby. This serves as an opportunity for families to receive guidance and support from the SNDO without the need of an appointment.
We invite our community to join us in learning, listening, and working together to create a future where accessibility, equity, and belonging are realities for everyone.
The Hon. Christian Santos GMD MP, Minister for Equality, Employment, Culture and Tourism said:
"Disability Pride Month affirms that every person deserves dignity, respect, and the opportunity to participate fully in their community without facing discrimination or unnecessary barriers. This is exactly what HM Government of Gibraltar are working towards!”
