Rainbow Flag

The rainbow flag is the best known symbol of LGBTQ+ pride, first created by artist and activist Gilbert Baker for San Francisco's Gay Freedom Day celebration in 1978. Harvey Milk, one of the first openly gay elected officials in the United States, asked Baker to design a symbol of hope for the community. Baker's original flag had eight stripes, each with a meaning: hot pink for sexuality, red for life, orange for healing, yellow for sunlight, green for nature, turquoise for art, indigo for harmony, and violet for spirit. Hot pink fabric was hard to source, and to allow even display on lamp posts the flag settled into the familiar six stripe version by 1979. It is now flown at Pride events worldwide.