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In 1994, New York City was remembering the 25th anniversary of the Stonewall Riot. I like to think of those elements as in every person, everyone shares that." "Green for nature, turquoise for magic, blue for serenity and purple for the spirit. "Pink is for sex, red for life, orange for healing, yellow for sun," Baker told ABC7 News. RELATED: Twin Peaks tavern in Castro District celebrated for gay rights historyĮach color of the rainbow flag stands for something. "Stitch, stitch, stitch on a little Singer. Oh my God, you don't even want to know," he said. To the best of our knowledge the information mentioned here is correct as of 1 July 2018."Organic, hand-dyed, big mess - cotton. Rainbow Store appreciates the copyright owners of all copy and pictures in this article. Rainbow Store respects the identity of any individual past and present in this article and we greatly appreciate the courage of all those people who were involved in this momentous occasion in history. There are also variations to represent bisexual, bears and others.
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For instance, a black stripe is added to some symbolizing those lost to AIDS. Many variations of the flag have been created. It is most commonly flown with the red stripe on top or on the left side, as the colours appear in a natural rainbow. However, the eight-striped version has seen little adoption by the wider gay community, which has mostly stuck with the better known six-striped version which now has international recognition. Each flag is personally signed by Gilbert Baker, numbered 1028, 1036, 1037, 1038, 1042 and each comes with it's own Certificate of Authenticity. Rainbow Store purchased, and still has in it's possession today 5 of these unique and very rare Rainbow Flags. It was used in the Key West Parade and later Gilbert Baker had it cut up and distributed with a limited worldwide release of 1100. In 2003 a 2km (1 1/4 mile) long, 8 colour nylon Rainbow Flag was produced for the 25th anniversary of the Rainbow Flag. In 1989 the rainbow flag came to nationwide attention in the USA after John Stout sued his landlords and won when they attempted to stop him displaying the rainbow flag from his West Hollywood apartment. Changing the flag design to one with an even number of stripes was the easiest way to rectify this, so the turquoise stripe was dropped, which resulted in a six stripe version of the flag - red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet. In 1979, the flag was modified again after it was hung vertically from a lamp post the center stripe was obscured by the post itself. Gilbert Baker increased production of his version of the flag, and he also dropped the pink stripe due to the unavailability of the pink fabric.
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To meet demand, the Paramount Flag Company began selling a version of the flag using stock rainbow fabric consisting of seven stripes of red, orange, yellow, green, turquoise, blue, and purple. The Rainbow Flag originally had eight stripes symbolising the diversity of the gay community:Īfter the November 1978 assassination of San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and openly gay Supervisor Harvey Milk the Rainbow Flag began to be used in San Francisco as a general symbol of the gay community. He also designed the flags for the 1984 Democratic National Convention. Gilbert Baker has designed flags for many dignitaries and political figures, including then San Fransisco Mayor Dianne Feinstein.
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In 1979, Gilbert Baker went to work at Paramount Flag Company in San Francisco (which closed in 1987). Gilbert Baker and thirty volunteers hand-stitched and hand-dyed two huge prototype flags for the parade. The Rainbow Flag first appeared on 25 June 1978 at the San Francisco Gay and Lesbian Freedom Day Parade.
#HISTORY OF THE GAY FLAG FREE#
It was about breaking free of an existence limited by fear and conformity, the right to express sexuality without shame or retaliation. The Rainbow Flag was designed in response to a local activist’s call for the need of a community symbol for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) pride, liberation and diversity.Ī flag that could be easily recognised and could be used year after year. He began making banners and ultimately the Gay Pride Rainbow Flag for his friend Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man elected to any substantial political office of San Francisco City Supervisor in 1978 and who was later assassinated on 27 November 1978. Army from 1970 until 1972.Īfter an honorable discharge he taught himself to sew. Gilbert Baker was born in Kansas on 2 June 1951 and served in the U.S.