Its simplicity and diversity has even prompted the transgender, bi-gender and bisexual, asexual, pansexual, bear, kink and other communities to create pride flags with different colours, maintaining similar rainbow structures. In cities around the world, the flag is flown during pride and Mardi Gras festivals, highlighting official support for the events. It flew over the Victorian House of Parliament during the official apology to the victims of anti-homosexuality legislation. The rainbow was projected across the White House when the US Supreme Court declared same-sex marriage to be legal in 2015. The flag has since been used in key battles for LGBT+ civil rights. In both instances the flag was cut up after use, with portions sent around the world for activists to use in years to come. Baker was engaged in a similar project in 2003, this time creating a mile-and-a-quarter flag in Key West, Florida, stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf Coast Sea. The project became the world's longest ever flag and took months to complete, creating a spectacular image across the streets of the city. In 1994, Baker was commissioned by the city of San Francisco to create a mile-long flag in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Stonewall riots. Since then, the flag has had some major moments in history. "Yeah, I killed him, but he did worse to me," the killer told police. It was in that moment of mourning that the rainbow became a symbol of solidarity and strength in the community, solidifying the rainbow flag’s place in queer history.
A huge vigil was organised, with the streets becoming lined with thousands of rainbow flags. The deaths turned San Francisco into a ”city in agony”. In November 1978 Harvey Milk was assassinated, alongside San Francisco mayor George Moscone. While the rainbow pride flag was successfully raised and used in the 1978 San Francisco march, its status as a queer symbol was not really cemented until the end of that year. Garland's death has often been stated as one of the inspirations for the Stonewall Riots in 1969. It's also said that Baker was inspired by Judy Garland's Wizard of Oz classic, “Over the Rainbow”. He says the initial rainbow, which included eight colours, represented eight different themes sexuality, life, healing, sunlight, nature, art, serenity, and spirit. In an interview with NBC, he says that the rainbow was the first and only symbol that came to his mind. In the lead up to the 1978 Gay Freedom Day Parade in San Francisco, Harvey Milk - the recently elected member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors - asked Baker to come up with a new flag.īaker, it is said, was inspired by a number of different factors. Often disregarded as a thing of the past, beats are still around and very much a part of gay culture, writes Simon Copland.Īs queer movements grew and diversified, people began to search for something new. The symbol stood out when worn, and was easy to translate and understand, but had problematic roots- the triangle was born out of the oppression of Nazi Germany the symbol being used as a way to identify, isolate, and punish gay men. Throughout the early years of gay liberation, activists largely used the pink triangle to identify themselves and the movement. It wasn’t until the late 1970s - almost ten years after the Stonewall Riots - that the rainbow flag was first used as a symbol for the LGBT+ movement. Since then, the rainbow has been used for religious and social movements, becoming a symbol of Buddhism in the late 1800s, being used for the cooperative movement in the 1920s, and the peace movement in the 1960s. According to the Bible, God first created the rainbow as a signal to Noah that there would never again be a world-wide flood. Rainbow flags and symbols have been important to a range of different cultures across human history. How is it that Baker came to create the pride flag, and how did it become such an important symbol for queer people? The American artist, activist, and creator of the modern rainbow pride flag, Gilbert Baker, passed away in late March, aged 65.
The 2021 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras live Saturday 6 March 6pm AEDT on SBS On Demand or catch the full parade at 7:30pm on SBS and NITV.
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