Rainbow

The rainbow is the best-known symbol of LGBTQ+ pride and identity. It comes from the rainbow flag, first designed by artist and activist Gilbert Baker and flown at San Francisco's Gay Freedom Day parade on June 25, 1978. Baker, encouraged by Harvey Milk, wanted a positive symbol to replace the pink triangle. His original flag had eight colored stripes, each with a meaning such as life, healing, and spirit; the version most used today has six. The rainbow's multicolored spectrum is now so tied to queer identity that its appearance on a storefront, building, or flag is widely read as a sign of welcome. It also carries broader ideas of hope and diversity.