A monumental day for the City of Humboldt.

On Monday, local dignitaries including Mayor Malcolm Eaton and MLA Donna Harpauer were on hand to raise the pride flag as a celebration of Humboldt Pride Week.

Saskatchewan Pride Network Coordinator Joe Wickenhauser is proud of the fact a city the size of Humboldt would take this step in acceptance.

"I think it's tremendously important, there is a lot of diversity in Humboldt and in smaller communities. When our small communities in Saskatchewan start to realize that and realize that LGBTQ people also need to be respected, included and to feel safe and welcome. I think that's an incredible step for a community like Humboldt to take."

Eaton made the proclamation in an earlier meeting of council over the summer to recognize Humboldt Pride Week.

The flag raising comes on the heels of a story in Saskatoon where a man was beaten in bathroom at a bar because he is gay.

"We want the same rights and freedoms as everyone else," Wickenhauser stated. "We want to live our lives without having to be afraid that we're going to get beat up or that something terrible will happen to us if we come out. We want to be respected, we want basic human rights."

There are a number of other events coinciding with the flag raising this week beginning with PARTNERS Family Services Rainbow Coffee for youth on Wednesday at 4pm.

There is also an event on Friday at Kemway Lanes, Be Yourself Bowling starting at 6:45, a Spirit of Diversity Workshop at the New Westminster Church on Sunday at 10:30 followed by a welcome social at St. Andrew's Anglican Church also on Sunday at 11:45am.

You can hear more from Wickenhauser below in his interview with Bolt FM's Ronald Quaroni.