On June 25, 1978, in San Francisco’s United Nations Plaza for Gay Pride Day, the rainbow flag flew for the first time. Gilbert Baker, an openly gay artist and gay rights activist, created the flag that contained eight colors. According to San Francisco Travel, Although Baker created the flag, Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official in Californian history, commissioned the symbol. The flag measured 30 by 60 feet, hand-sewn by Baker himself. The flag flew with eight colors, each with a different meaning assigned by Baker. From top to bottom the colors went as follows: hot pink for sexuality, red for life, orange for healing, yellow for sunlight, green for nature, turquoise for magic and art, indigo for serenity and harmony, and violet for spirit. However, they later removed the pink and turquoise from the flag to make it easier to mass produce.
Many changes would continue for the flag. While Baker's flag became the symbol for the community for over 40 years, many have called to push a new flag into that position. According to Forbes, a flag created in 2018 by Daniel Quasar might be the one to take its place. Titled the Progress Flag, it showcases an arrow of five new colors all placed alongside the original six colors of the flag. Quasar incorporated a black and brown stripe to include persons of color into the community, causing the city of Philadelphia to change their pride flag, but only adding these two colors to the top of the flag. However Quasar’s flag doesn’t stop there, it also brings in the light blue and pink from the trans flag, made in 1999 by Monica Helms. Xe left the last new color, white, to represent those in the community living with AIDS, and those no longer here to see the progress of the community.
But why add these colors as an arrow instead of more stripes like Philadelphia has? According to Dezeen, Quasar wanted the new colors to be visually separated from the old flag, placing emphasis on them because of their different meaning, showing the values to the community now in this current age. They wanted the main section of the flag to still hold the six original colors so as not to take away the meaning of the old flag and the struggles the community once faced, but also wanted the arrow of new colors to be pointing right to show forward movement. Xe placed this arrow on the left of the flag to show that progress still needed to be made in the community and outside of it.
Looking back at the history of the LGBTQ+ flag reminds some of the students at AFHS of the continuing struggle of the LGBTQ+ community. The flag endures as a symbol for unity and acceptance.
Comments