A new link-bridge at the Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH) in Hampshire has been opened and features an Intersex-Inclusive Pride flag, designed by Valentino Vecchietti.
Construction for the link-bridge started in May 2022, and the walkway connects the PRUHโs Day Surgery Unit with the main hospital, so enhancing accessibility and allowing patients and staff to get around the site more easily.
Background
To commemorate Pride Month, the PRUH, part of the Kingโs College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, has constructed a pride flag mural, designed by Valentino Vecchietti. This is also part of a wider initiative by the hospital to embrace diversity.
Valentino Vecchietti is an intersex equality campaigner, and part of the group Intersex Equality Rights UK. They are the original designer of the intersex-inclusive pride flag in 2021 โ this is symbolised by a yellow triangle with a purple circle on it.
When the flag was created, the Intersex Equality Rights UK group said โThe circle is unbroken and un-ornamented, symbolising wholeness and completeness, and our potentialities. We are still fighting for bodily autonomy and genital integrity, and this symbolises the right to be who and how we want to be.โ
Why a mural?
Murals are important because they celebrate cultural expression, beautify public spaces, engage communities, educate and raise awareness, contribute to urban regeneration, and have a positive psychological impact on individuals. They are powerful tools for fostering creativity, identity, and social cohesion.
Within the context of the intersex-inclusivity pride flag, this shows progression towards breaking down barriers and widening the scope for acceptance and inclusivity. its vibrancy provides an appealing visual aspect, as the pride flag represents the spirit and resilience of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Responses
Vecchietti said โI am delighted to see the PRUHโs commitment to diversity and inclusion. The Intersex-Inclusive pride flag is a meaningful symbol for our LGBTIQ+ community. It tells us that we are welcome, safe, and included.”
โWhether we work in the hospital, are here to welcome a new birth, visit a loved one, or if we ourselves are in need of hospital treatment, I hope that the love and humanity in our beautiful Pride flag will provide a gentle and uplifting space for all who need it.โ
Professor Clive Kay, Chief Executive of Kingโs College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, of which the PRUH is part, added: โThe new bridge is part of our work to make sure patients and visitors have the best experience possible when they visit us. We were also delighted to be able to feature the Intersex-Inclusive flag as part of its design.”
โIn the year that the NHS celebrates its 75th anniversary, the flagโs inclusion in the buildingโs design is a creative and visible way of communicating our commitment as an organisation to equality, diversity and inclusion, which is a vital part of the care we provide.โ
Final thought
The pride flag mural celebrates and embraces the diversity of sexual orientations, gender identities, and expressions within the LGBTQIA+ community. It serves as a visible symbol of solidarity, pride, and unity, reminding individuals that they are part of a community that welcomes and accepts them for who they are.